This was occurred with the classic client. When I entered a rowboat and immediately used the ship's wheel, I was stuck in place while the rowboat moved without me. I could control it with the mouse until it moved a few tiles away, and then control broke and it told me "You cannot pilot a ship unless you are aboard it!"
I used the mooring rope to teleport back on deck, used the wheel again, and I was still rooted in place on the water as the boat moved off without me. The third time, I took one step after boarding and before using the wheel, and the rowboat worked properly.