An important part of the boat

Jimmy Snyder

When seen from the left side of the boat it goes toward the rear.
When seen from the right side of the boat it goes toward the front.
When seen from behind the boat it goes toward the right side.
What is it?

Rahmuss

The sail, or the bench?

nnnnnnnn

the sun? ..

Jimmy Snyder

No and no. If you really think you have the right answer, you should color it white as follows:

[ COLOR=white]answer[/COLOR]

But without the space between [ and C. Does someone know the right way to escape the initial [?

AKG

The boat, heading towards its own right side.

Jimmy Snyder

Nope. Try again?

matthyaouw

when you say it goes to the rear/front/right, are you talking relative to the boat, or to the observer?

Huckleberry

The propeller? The shaft that it connects to?

Jimmy Snyder

Relative to the boat.

BicycleTree

The rotating radar

gerben

Starboard?

marcus

Your own right hand

BicycleTree

Aw, that's a good one, but it would suck if that's the answer because which way you are facing does not depend on which side of the boat you're on.

Huckleberry

Great answer marcus. Does it have to be a part of the boat? If not, then marcus has a correct answer.

JamesU

Wow, someone in the brainteasers forum actually replies to responses

Jimmy Snyder

Nope. It's a part of the boat.

As I reread it, I see that even though the riddle is perfectly ok the way I wrote it, what I meant was slightly different than what I wrote.

What I really meant is when you are standing to the left of the boat, you see it going toward the rear, when you are standing to the right of the boat, you see it going toward the front, and when you are standing behind the boat, you see it going toward the right.

Here's a small hint (but not much help). It doesn't move relative to the boat.

Huckleberry

Is it a sailing ship?
Why do I get the feeling that the answer will be disappointing.
--->The jib?<---