[Lowfer] 2200m-vention and close down

[Eric KD5UWL]

Hi, Ed,

> The Coast Guard
> and others used to (and may still) have guns which could shoot a line a
> lot farther than a man could throw it.

Yes, these are still in use today.  I saw them during my years of offshore 
work.  They have a brass rod that is attached to the heaving line you want 
to throw...usually to another vessel traveling parrallel to your course.  
It is this brass rod that is shot from the gun.

The hard part is convincing someone on the other boat to catch it :)  
Actually, it isn't done that way -- the line is shot OVER the other 
vessel.

Because of the extreme danger involved, it is usually much safer, if wx 
allows, to bring the vessels close enough that a seaman can heave the line 
with the traditional monkey's fist for weight alone.  Placing weight (like 
a bolt or large nut) within the fist is frowned upon.  Of course, with no 
one on the other end trying to catch it, a weighted fist would help.

It takes a MAN to heave such a line very far.  If you DO put weight in the 
fist, and strike the other man in the head with it, you may also need to 
be a real man to defend yourself once you reach the dock.

These guns are special built for the purpose and I could NOT recommend 
trying anything like this with a non-purpose built gun.

Eric