@Dave Barker wrote:
On balance I think I would recommend the port side for this engine – the throttle arm is so short that it barely reaches into the boat, so there’s no way it will cause a space problem either way.
First of all you want your bracket as far away from the rudder as possible. Second every motor has a tendency to turn from its center position due to internal torque. Depending on its turning direction a motor has a tendency to turn clockwise or counter clockwise. You could turn the wing nut that keeps the motor from turning till breaking point but the motor will still slowly turn away from its center position. Better is to have a short piece of rope from the motors helm to a clam-cleat just below the transom (below the transom to avoid it catching the main sheet). The line prevents the motor from turning off its center line and the cleat helps you adjusting it to an exact straight course. In real life this means the motor points slightly offset from the boats center line to compensate its wheel effect.
Most motors have a tendency to torque clockwise. In that case and if you have the motor mounted port side you need “moving-air-screws” to fix the cleat. Unfortunately “moving-air-screws” have yet to be invented. It is far easier to mount the motor starboard side and have a cleat screwed in the transom somewhere port of the boats center line. Obviously if you have a motor that tends to turn counter clockwise it should be mounted port with a cleat starboard from the center line.
The anti-torque line, when strong enough, doubles as a safety line, preventing the motor from taking deep sea diving lessons.