Stanchions, commonly used these days are to keep you in the correct line for the theater. (Which honestly make me feel like I am in a cattle chute, creating an urge to moo). On modern sail boats stanchions are used to span cable around the deck, keeping passengers from falling overboard. Stanchions on wooden ships are used to support the bulwarks (the "wall" above the deck topped with a caprail, great place to sit while sailing!) They also serve to support the chain plates, w