Heaveys
by David Barth
January 18, 2001
I'm not certain of the source of the term "heavey," but it pertains to a rope with a weight tied to one end. For right-handed persons, the rope is coiled and held in the
right hand, with the weighted end hanging down, and the other end is held in the left hand. The heavy end of the heavey is tossed (heaved) to the dock where someone
over there grabs it. While the person on the dock is grabbing the heavey, the thrower on the boat quickly ties the other end to the thick line that is used to tie the boat
to the dock. The heavy end of the line is called a "monkey fist" and consists of lead shot wrapped tightly in a large knot.
In the shipyard, while Lafayette construction was being completed, several of us sailors were gathered together to learn about the art of throwing heaveys. It was
explained to us that a boat like Lafayette has only one screw, making maneuvering much more difficult than boats that have two screws. Twin-screw boats can
reverse one screw while running the other one forward to turn the boat during docking.
In the case of one-screw boats like ours, we were told that, as heavey throwers, we needed to get the forward and aft heavey lines over to the dock as soon as
possible so that the thick hawsers could be pulled across to the dock. Then the hawsers at each end of the boat would be wrapped around the fore and aft hydraulic
capstans to pull the boat slowly to the dock. We were told that the Captain would certainly appreciate getting the ropes to the dock as soon as possible so that he
could control the boat. This was especially important when there was a current.
When I was a kid, I threw rocks at targets a lot, so I had a pretty good arm, and I was assigned to be the forward heavey thrower, what I considered a position of
responsibility and prestige. One day, following a sea trial, we were coming back to the Electric Boat shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, and when the topside watch
was called up to the deck, I was first up to the front of the boat with my heavey line. I judged the distance to the dock and threw my heavey as hard as I could. It
stretched out without any slack, and a yard worker (we affectionately called them "yard birds") caught the monkey fist, one-handed, and began to run to a cleat
where he would tie the hawser. I was trying to lean down to tie the other end of the heavey line to the two-inch thick hawser while he was thirty yards away on the
dock, running with the other end, almost pulling me overboard. Some of the other yard workers yelled at him to stop running for a moment, and I was able to tie the
line.
After the hawser was pulled to the dock and attached to the cleat, I looked up at Captain Hannifin and Commander Douglas, the executive officer, and they smiled
with approval. From then on, I decided I needed a longer heavey line, so I doubled the length of my line. However, the extra length got me into trouble one
time.
We were coming into the harbor at Rota, Spain, to tie up next to another submarine. Again, I was the forward heavey thrower, ready to help Captain Hannifin by
getting the hawser to the other boat as soon as possible. I gauged the distance, and considering that I had a double-length heavey line, gave a monster throw.
The monkey fist arced high toward the other boat. On its deck were a chief petty officer and a sailor. The monkey fist soared downward and hit the deck with
a "bang!" frightening the chief and the sailor. I congratulated myself on a great throw, and thought the deck crew on the other boat should learn to be ready sooner
when Captain Hannifin's Lafayette came in to tie up next to them.
Well, my long heavey throw didn't do and good to the public relations between Lafayette and the other boat, and I suspect that Captain Hannifin had to smooth
some feathers over there. Some time later, on the next topside duty, the officer in charge of the forward deck told me not to throw the heavey until he gave me
permission. It was then that I realized my super-long throw to that other boat hadn't been received kindly. I decided that my heavey ability was at least sufficient,
if not superior, for Lafayette's requirements.
From then on, I let the forward deck officer give me the go-ahead to make a throw. Unfortunately, my heavey expertise was never challenged by a swift current or
other criticality that tested my capabilities to the limit. However, I always enjoyed throwing it and trying to nail the target I chose for the monkey fist to hit. I hope
Captain Hannifin was pleased.