Question 1390 Deck Safety

The correct answer is A) to port. When backing a motor propelled lifeboat with a right-hand propeller and the rudder amidships, the stern will back to port. This is because the rotation of the right-hand propeller creates a thrust that causes the stern to swing to the left (port) as the boat is backing up. This is a well-established principle in boat handling and is a key concept tested in the US Coast Guard Captain's License Examinations. The other answer choices are incorrect because B) the stern would not back to starboard, C) the boat would not back straight, and D) there is a clear correct answer as described above.