... I don't think a line to the front of a bigger
sailboat is called a painter.


How big a boat? How is it fastened?


Jeff wrote:
As I was taught, if its permanently attached (more or less) to the bow,
its a painter. If not, its a dock line...

Agreed, a "painter" (as I've always heard the term used) is
a dedicated line to the bow of a boat small enough to be
towed as a dinghy/tender. Doesn't matter if it's currently
in use as a tow rope, bow line to the pier, or coiled under
the bow thwart.

The ways I've seen painters "permanently attached" include a
spliced loop to a bow eye, a spliced loop w/ a lark's head
knot to bow eye, reeved thru a hole in the stem with a
stopper knot, and spliced into the rope rubrail around the
gunwhale (only seen this once, wouldn't really recommend it
although it looks salty).

Fresh Breezes- Doug King