Thwart

thumb|The thwarts in this wooden dinghy are the three seats that go from one side of the hull to the other. The U-shaped arrangement of seats at the stern of the boat are the Glossary of nautical terms (M-Z)#sternsheets|sternsheets A thwart is a part of an undecked boat that provides seats for the crew and structural rigidity for the hull. A thwart goes from one side of the hull to the other. There may be just one thwart in a small boat, or many in a larger boat, especially if several oarsmen need to be accommodated.

==General description== A thwart is a part of a boat that usually has two functions: as a seat, and as a structural member that provides some rigidity to the hull. A thwart goes from one side of the hull to the other in an open (undecked) boat, and therefore resists forces pushing in or pulling out the sides of the hull. More obviously it provides a seat for an occupant of a boat. In many sailing boats, a thwart may help support the mast. This can be done either by inserting the mast through a hole in the thwart (with the end resting in a mast step on the keel), or the mast may be clamped to one side of a thwartthis makes it easier to step and unstep the mast whilst afloat.