What Is the Port Side and Why Is it Called That?
 

What Is the Port Side and Why Is it Called That?

If you’ve been on a cruise, you’ve probably heard the term port side. But what is the port side? Find out in this article.
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In the early days of boating, before ships had rudders on their centerlines, boats were controlled using a steering oar. Most sailors were right handed, so the steering oar was placed over or through the right side of the stern. Sailors began calling the right side the steering side, which soon became "starboard" by combining two Old English words: stéor (meaning "steer") and bord (meaning "the side of a boat").

As the size of boats grew, so did the steering oar, making it much easier to tie a boat up to a dock on the side opposite the oar. This side became known as larboard, or "the loading side." Over time, larboard—too easily confused with starboard—was replaced with port. After all, this was the side that faced the port, allowing supplies to be ported aboard by porters.

Thanks!
 

Way cool!
Thanks for the historical clarification. I've been a motor-type of boater for about 65 years and I know the difference between port and starboard, but never knew the origins of the terms.

Port side
 

I remember the PORT side being on the LEFT side of the boat. 4 letters in each word so it's easy for me to remember!

Now that you know that do you know what the term POSH means and where it came from? The term is used when something is high end or top level.

When leaving England for America you wanted to be on the PORT side so you can get the sun into your cabin. When returning to England from America you want the STARBOARD side again so that same sun enters your porthole or large window. So it's PORT OUT STARBOARD HOME = POSH

When leaving England for America you wanted to be on the PORT side so you can get the sun into your cabin. When returning to England from America you want the STARBOARD side again so that same sun enters your porthole or large window. So it's PORT OUT STARBOARD HOME = POSH

It is often said to refer to the voyage from England to India, when you wanted to be on the non-sunny side both ways because of the absence of air-conditioning, but there is no proof of this.

I know the term "red right returning" for boating. All I remember is that you kept the red light on your right when returning to harbor. Is that correct? If not, someone remind me.
Thanks,
Pete

Port side and Starboard side, green, red, also is good to know navigating past buoys in a channel.

why is it a buoy , and not a she or a girl??? all my cars i ever had are girls. just asking.

On this side of the Pond, yes. The opposite applies in Europe and in most places outside of the Americas.

It's called a buoy because it's buoyant.

Actually there is an international agreement that sets the navigation lighting standard for all maritime vessels. Imagine the confusion that would exist in international waters if there was not a consistent standard. Same applies to aircraft by the way.

Since we are talking nautical terms, any prior Navy guys want to explain where the term, "the smoking lamp is lit" came from? I had it explained once from a buddy who had been in the Navy, but he might have been pulling my leg.

GCM