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Actually had one of these on my boat when I was growing up. Vital piece of tech. (startrek.website)
submitted 2 years ago by to c/funny@lemmy.world
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[–] [S] 11 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Honestly, yeah. That's what I relied on as well and what was taught to me. Also what I then taught to the people under me. I have no other real way of understanding it. I know why we use port/starboard but I've never looked into why port/starboard are the words we've stuck with.

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  • [–] 15 points 2 years ago

    That's easy. We use 'port' because that's the left side, and 'starboard' because that's the other side of the boat.

    No, no. No need to thank me. I'm just one humble man trading information gleaned from a long life of learning.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago*

    IIRC, it was because the tiller for the rudder (with which you steer) was on the right side. (Styrbord in Swedish = steer board) As to why you have port in English, I have no idea. It's babord in Swedish, from bakbord (back board) as when steering, the left side was behind you.

    Edit: Apparently it's port because you'd dock with the left side to the port as otherwise you'd crush the rudder, which again was on the right.

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