A mooring line is a type of ROPE or CABLE used to secure a boat to a dock or other structure. The most common components of a mooring line are a HAWSER, PAINTER, CABLE, and ROPE. A HAWSER is a large ROPE used for mooring, towing, and other purposes. A PAINTER is a short ROPE attached to the bow of a boat for securing it to a dock or another boat. A CABLE is a strong wire ROPE used for mooring and towing. Lastly, a ROPE is a length of fibers twisted together to form a thicker line. All of these components are used together to form a mooring line.