Thwart with a Frame

[backwardsraft]

I am working on designing a new frame for my 15 ft Aire Raft. I am looking at adding a dry box and I am wondering if I can eliminate all the thwarts. Is this a good idea or doable? Thanks

[teletoes]

Yes. You can dump the dump the thwarts. Especially if you fill the space with coolers, dry boxes, et al.

[Snowhere]

Standard practice when running a full frame for carrying gear. The frame makes up for the loss of stiffness that happens when removing the thwarts.

[Wadeinthewater]

Old bucket boats needed thwarts for structure to hold the tubes in the correct position when they didn't have a frame. Any boat with a decent frame doesn't need thwarts. I often paddle raft my 14 ft Maravia without thwarts when I am too lazy to put them back in. It works fine.

[Jensjustduckie]

I never put my thwarts in when the frame's going on the boat, they just take up room and are in the way of the cooler and drop-bag.

[caprishmael]

Take the Belt and Suspenders approach. Glue 4 D Rings on the inside of your boat, attach your frame to those as well as the outside D Rings.