How Did Old Sailing Ships Steer?

The evolution of ship steering, particularly the introduction of the steering wheel, has revolutionized sailing and made it more accessible to sailors of all levels. Viking ships had one square sail made of wool, a row of oars on each side, and a steering oar at the back on the right-hand side. The shell of the ship was built first with overlapping planks, then reinforced with internal framing. A whipstaff was a steering device used on European sailing ships from the 14th to the 17th century. Its development preceded the invention of the more complex ships wheel. By the 1880s, ships with triple-expansion steam engines had the fuel efficiency to compete with sail on all major routes and with scheduled sailings that were not affected by the wind direction.

The carrack was the beast of burden of the Age of Exploration and became the standard vessel of Atlantic trade. As well as being an excellent transport ship, it provided a more precise and effortless control. The invention of the ships wheel in the 18th century revolutionized maritime steering, allowing for more precise and effortless control. With the advent of steam and a steering mechanism that held the ships wheel, the R.M.S. Titanic is perhaps the most iconic example of this invention.

In ancient times, sailors relied on various techniques to control the direction of their ships. One method used in the Ancient World was to mount either one or two large flat oars to the side of the ship, close to the stern. Ancient mariners gradually advancing to more sophisticated systems like the steering wheel.