Throw Bags and Rescue Lines for Boats (2026)

A throw bag is a stuff sack with a floating line packed inside and one end left free. You hold that end and throw the bag; the line pays out as it flies. It reaches farther than a ring buoy on a short line and packs smaller than a cushion, which is why paddlers carry them and why they belong on a fishing boat too.

How we chose: we did not test these bags. Picks come from the line length, diameter and material stated on each listing, sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store and in stock on September 30, 2026.

Three throw bags side by side

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

What makes a rescue line work

The line has to float, so the swimmer can see it and reach it on the surface. NRS, which makes throw bags for whitewater, says in its throw bag basics that rope in these bags "is at least partially made of polypropylene, because it floats." All three bags above state polypropylene line.

Length is a trade-off. A longer line reaches a swimmer who has drifted away from the boat or who is off the end of a pier, but it is heavier to throw and slower to pull back in for a second try. On a boat, 50 ft covers a swimmer near the hull; the Kemp's 75 ft is for when you can't get closer.

Only one of the three states a strength. Scotty rates its 9/32 in line at 550 lb test, per the listing. Attwood and Kemp give diameter or construction but no breaking strength, so if you plan to use the line for towing or tying off, choose a line whose maker states a rating.

How to throw it

NRS's steps are short, and worth practicing on land before you need them. First get the swimmer's attention "with whistle blasts or shouts, before throwing." Then "hold the free end securely and toss the bag to the swimmer." NRS puts one rule in capitals: never tie your end of the rope to yourself or any object.

Aim long. NRS says to toss the bag "ideally so that it sails past the swimmer and the line falls across their chest." An underhand, softball-style throw is the natural motion; an overhand throw can go farther. The swimmer should grab the line, not the bag, and roll onto their back so you can swing them toward the boat or shore.

To take the load, NRS says to pass the rope across your back, "down low on the hips or higher across the shoulder." That puts the load on your body instead of your arms.

Pro tip: if the first throw misses, there's no time to restuff the bag. NRS says to practice coiling the line quickly for a second throw, and to carry a sharp knife in case the rope has to be cut.

Restuffing and storing

After use, feed the line back in a little at a time. NRS describes feeding the rope into the bag "with your thumbs and index fingers," which stacks the coils so they pay out without tangling. A bag stuffed in a lump is a bag that jams on the next throw.

Two of the bags here are self-draining, per their listings, so water runs out after a throw instead of sitting in the line. Stow the bag where you can grab it from the helm or the kayak seat, not under the cooler.

Throw bag vs the required throwable

A throw bag does not replace the throwable the federal rule requires. Under 33 CFR 175.15, a recreational vessel 16 feet or longer needs one throwable PFD aboard in addition to the wearables, and the Coast Guard's How to Choose the Right Life Jacket brochure lists "U.S. Coast Guard approved" first among its life jacket requirements.

None of the three listings here shows a Coast Guard approval, so carry the bag as an extra.

The approved cushions and rings, and the rest of the carriage list, are in our USCG required equipment checklist. The best rescue is the one you don't need: a worn life jacket, covered in our inflatable vs foam guide, keeps the person in the water afloat while you throw.

Related: kids' life jackets, handheld VHF radios for calling for help, and kayak fishing accessories for mounting gear on a kayak.

NRS also sells throw bags on Amazon, but only through a third-party seller when we checked, so they are not linked. Our marine recall list, built from CPSC recall notices since 2023, has no entries for Scotty, Attwood, Kemp USA or NRS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why shouldn't I wrap the rope around my hand?

Because a swimmer's weight in moving water can pull you in with them. NRS puts it in capitals, never tie your end of the rope to yourself or any object, and says to belay by passing the rope across your back or hips instead.

Should the swimmer hold the bag or the rope?

The rope. NRS says the swimmer should grab the line rather than the bag, then turn onto their back so you can swing them toward shore.

Can I use a throw bag line as an anchor or tow rope?

Only if the maker states a strength that fits the job. Of these three, only Scotty states one (550 lb test), and NRS's restuffing method assumes a clean, untangled line, so dry and restuff it properly before it goes back in the boat.

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