eli5: Why is a ship’s steering at the back and not at the front like cars?

Question

eli5: Why is a ship’s steering at the back and not at the front like cars?

In: 5

Answer 1

Because cars have wheels on the ground that prevent the car from sliding sideways or suddenly turning 180 out of control. Boats don’t have this, so if your steering mechanism is at the front, and the “pushing” power is in the middle (like with sails) or at the rear (propeller), the moment you try to steer, the boat will flip around.

[The boat would behave like this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7bF0FEhdcM); note how the car’s tires are actually slipping, and the car is technically “out of control” and sliding sideways like a boat would in water.