My old 505 crew decided to come out for a play last night in a club race(30/8)the wind was 15/18knots and he managed to land arse first ,missing the side deck at terminal velocity, landed on the port foreward part of the thwart which exploded in a loud crack. After variuos humourous expletives we sailed on. However 20 minutes later we went mining when he found himself the wrong side of verticle again! no big deal however the timber thwart decided to float off unseen. Now the question raised by onlookers & ourselves is, is it really needed?(that bit of thwart not my mate) Like many Rowsell/Turner/Others the thwart was lightened by cutting out the centre 50mm to provide minimal extra lateral support but posibly more support for backsides. there is a bulkhead coupled to the after section and only the after 75% is landed on the case top. 
Well anyone had the same thought or problem, all answers gratfully muled over, Barry
ps 3236 is on the rigging guide so you can see the thwart pre-impact!!!

Barry, I had a similar but less drastic problem on my Rowsell NSM.  Part of the restoration work last winter included repairing a lateral break in the forward section of one side of the thwart (where it meets the hull near the sidedeck).  Almost certain it broke because the forward section is not supported by an arch as the aft section is.  As well as applying a resin glue to the break, my father (also Barry) constructed two 10mm oak sections to reinforce and support these parts of the thwart on both sides of the boat.

As to whether that bit of thwart is needed, I would have said yes as I thought it was there to reinforce the hull in the mid section.  Don't know if this helps.

Richard, 
Can you e mail me your email address I have a couple of Q's about your dad's boat.
Cheers
Hywel (formally of 3600 The Matrix)

Here you go mate...

Thwart supports centreboard case.

Remove without suitable replacement support at your peril!

The point is the centreboard case is still well supported by the after (main) section together with the bulkhead, If you have a chance take a look at Parker 470's & 505 which have as have many other dinghies a similar set up & you'll see what I mean. 
Merlins seem to have this extra wide thwart to accomadate the crews backside and or to avoid putting correctors in (which offer no support!)
It was wieght/strength in a usefull place, modern GRP & wood builds have rethought this area thus our lateral thinking on the subject, room for thought (thwart!!)   Barry.

Another few thoughts ( I used to own 3227 Super Trouper which came out of the same stable).

a) how will you support the zimer frame aka hoop?

b) where do you put all the cleats for the control lines?

the after part of the thwart including the ring frame/bulkhead which houses the cleats & hoop will still remain in place. Barry.

I misunderstood.

You *might* be ok.

If would still be on my list for a winter fix though to be honest, especially if you have the skills to do it yourself.

Someone modified 3246 Bad for Good (Spolton built Bad Company) by removing the front section of the thwart with disasterous consequences for the centreboard case! On that boat the main load was taken by the front section of the thwart however.

Experience in other classes suggests that just because an other boat(and I would hesitate to hold up the 470 as a good example of sailboat engineering anyway) have a structure that was designed without that component doesn't mean that its not imnportant in your boat that was designed to have it. Doubtless you could knock up a carbon one of similar strength and a fraction of the weight.