Great addition to any vessel

Knew it! No one can remember that shit.

Between "port" "starboard" "right" and "left" only two of the words have the same number of letters.
Left = Port
For the once per year I have to think about this, that's my mnemonic.
- When you are standing in the center of the boat looking forward just remember. Boats are like women! They have PmS! Port (on the left), me (in the middle), Starboard (on the right)!
- You can also face forward and imagine the word "PISS" in the water.
"Port" and "left" both have four letters. "Starboard" is the other one.
Learned that trick a few years ago and have not forgotten since.
- The problem is that left and right are different depending on which direction you're facing on the ship.
- Instructions unclear, just punched my first mate in the groin.
"no red port left in the bottle"
Alphabetically, port comes before starboard. We read left to right...
This is one the few things I can remember and I have literally no use for it.

Port and starboard are easy enough in a powerboat (of the type I am familiar with). Tie up port side, sit on starboard (steer board) side to steer.

But what is most fun is remembering what direction in a channel one is travelling in an area where the channels merge.

Red right return
- Are we returning or leaving? Where did the channel end and the new one begin? I go through that enough for it to be a problem, but not enough to remember where they switch direction.

It took me until this year to realize the port and starboard referred to what the ship was touching when docked. The left side goes to the port, the other side faces the stars.

I felt so dumb that I had completed Black Flag 3 times and never picked up on this.

Port used to be called larboard, and starboard is called that because it comes from middle English for "steering side", essentially. Not actually anything to do with stars. But the port thing is true, they had to dock to port on the left because of the steering oars.

My left, your left, the ship's left, or the ceiling's left?

I think everybody might have left.

No it is not. Port and starboard are only left and right if you are facing the bow. If you are facing the stern they are reversed (from your perspective). The reason why is to make sure there are unambiguous terms for turning a ship in order to navigate and avoid collisions.

Btw the same rule applies to airplanes. If you are flying and have another airplane flying towards you both pilots must turn starboard to avoid a crash.

Pilot here. We just say left and right and don't bother with port and starboard.
- I stand corrected.
- Have you seen the Nathan Fielder special The Rehearsal up on HBO? It's specifically about pilots and how to potentially reduce airplane crashes

"Left" and "Port" both have four letters. "Right" and "Starboard" both have more than four letters. That's how you remember them.

Boats used to have their steering paddle out on the right because most people were right handed. When you pulled into port, you didn't want your steering rod to hit the port so port side was the left. That's how I remember.

Is no-one gonna mention the inconsistent formatting of the signs underneath? Just me?

I think it gives character, which is in opposition to the 'black and white mono spaced thing' above it making the joke even funnier

104 comments on how to memorize starboard and port as right and left.

I have an even better way to know : Just fucking remember it.

It's not that difficult.

Good idea. Just fucking remember it. JFRI. Jerry Fixes Ruined Items. Got it.