Heave The Lead

Heave the lead is a nautical term used to determine the depth of water beneath a vessel. It involves throwing a lead weight attached to a line overboard and measuring the depth of the water based on the length of line that is wet. The lead weight is called a sounding lead and is usually made of lead or brass. The line is marked at intervals to indicate the depth of the water. Heaving the lead is an important safety measure for ships to avoid running aground or hitting underwater obstructions. It is also used to create nautical charts and maps of the seafloor.
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