Ropework
How to Throw a Heaving Line or Mooring Line Accurately
Published · Last checked October 2026
To throw a heaving line, coil or flake it so it will run freely, make sure the end is secured to the boat or held under your foot, then split the coil into two parts: a smaller throwing coil in your throwing hand and the rest in the other hand. Swing underarm or sidearm and release towards a point just beyond the target, opening your other hand so the rest pays out. Shout before you throw.
Preparing the line
- Secure the end: tie the bitter end to the boat or hold it firmly. Throwing the whole line overboard is a classic mistake.
- Flake or coil it so it will run out without tangles. Braided line runs better in figure-of-eight coils.
- Split the coil: about a third to half in your throwing hand, the rest loose in your other hand with the fingers open.
- Check the area: no crew, rigging or guardrails in the way of the swing, and nobody ashore standing where it will land on their head.
The throw
Stand side-on to the target. Swing the throwing coil back and then forward in a smooth underarm or sidearm arc, releasing as your arm points just above the target. Let the remaining coils run off the open fingers of your other hand. Aim to drop the line across the person's arms or the pontoon cleat, not at them. A slight upward angle carries further than a flat throw.
| Fault | Result | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Throwing a tight coil | Line falls short in a lump | Split the coil and let it run |
| Too little line in hand | Line pulls up short | Have more than the distance ready |
| Overarm throw | Tangles in rigging | Underarm or sidearm, clear of the shrouds |
| End not secured | Whole line lost | Tie it off or stand on it |
| Throwing too early | Distance too far | Wait until you are within easy range |
Mooring lines and heaving lines
A dedicated heaving line is a light, flexible rope, sometimes with a weighted end (a monkey's fist or a small bag), that can be thrown much further than a heavy mooring warp. Once the shore party has it, they haul across the warp, which is tied on with a sheet bend or bowline. On most yachts coming into a marina, the crew simply throws the mooring line itself over a short distance, or better, steps ashore with it when the boat is close and stopped.
Throwing a line to a person in the water
- Throwing lines in bags (throw bags) are designed for this: hold the end and throw the bag past and beyond the casualty so the line falls across them.
- Shout to get their attention first and tell them to grab the line, not the bag.
- Brace yourself and keep low as you pull: a person in moving water can pull you in.
- Be ready with a second throw. Repack or coil quickly if you miss.
Practise throwing on a pontoon or lawn before you need it: a few minutes of practice makes a big difference to range and accuracy. Try throwing from both sides and with both hands, as you rarely get to choose where the target is.
Practise coming alongside in the berthing and boat handling lesson and see how to moor a sailboat.