Why are North American boat (small pleasure craft) steering wheels on the right and not on the left like they are in cars. (And is the reserve true in the UK?)
My fate keeps getting in the way of my destiny.
I think pretty much all boat steering wheels are on the starboard side. Starboard comes from steer board, i.e., the side of the longship that the Vikings put the steering oar on. (Mediterranean vessels often had twin steering oars.) I think the steering oar was on the right since it was assumed that the steersman had a stronger right arm. So its a fairly old tradition (1300 years?).
Because British boats are made in the US and US boats are made in Britain. 
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SD claims it’s to counteract prop torque, but Boris’ answer make just as much sense… Hmm…
…answer might make as much sense…
Too late on a Friday afternoon…