A forcola (plural forcole) is the rowlock or oarpost used in traditional Venetian boats, the most well-known type of boat being the gondola. Forcole are unlike any other type of rowlock because of the unique rowing position of the oarsman: he stands facing forward and, in craft like the gondola, propels and manouevres the boat with a single oar.

The various manoeuvres require different postitions of the oar, so the forcola must provide a number of leverage points. This accounts for its sinuous, organic shape.

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