New from Harken

The latest deck wonders from Wisconsin

Small Battcar

For 2004, Harken has added the Micro CB* Battcar to its line of low-friction mainsail handling traveller systems with a system suitable for boats of up to 35ft. Modelled after the Micro CB traveller, these smooth-rolling, one-piece solid aluminium micro cars hoist and drop sails without effort. Stainless steel wires keep the balls captive when the cars are off the track. Removing the sail is simple: just press the 'car stop' button on the bottom of the track and cars slide off easily while still attached to the sail.

“Our Micro CB Battcar system represents a huge step forward,” said Ken Lang, Harken engineer in charge of the project. “Now it’s possible for sailors with boats under 35 ft to install an easy-to-use, smooth rolling system that lets them hoist and reef their mainsail quickly and efficiently on all points of sail.”

Micro cars come with a 10mm threaded stud that fit a variety of batten receptacles. A dual car headboard shares the high leech loads during reefing. Luff cars are available in slider or ball bearing configurations. Drill-free tracks mount to most masts using a unique slug system that allows installation even with the mast up.






40mm ratchet for Carbo block line

Harken has added the 40mm Carbo Ratchet to its popular line of ratchet blocks. This small ratchet is suitable for jib sheets and spinnakers on small dinghies where less holding power is needed, but size and weight are critical.

“The 40 mm Carbo Ratchet is a great addition to the line,” said Chuck Lob, Harken's Senior Engineer for standard products. “Racing sailors have tested it in a variety of wind conditions, and report that it works beautifully, with the right balance between 'feel' and holding power.”

This costs £36.95 or £39.59 with becket.



Midrange CB travellers

Midrange CB travellers are the newest addition to Harken's Captive Ball Traveller line. This line of compact, lightweight travellers is built to handle high loads on offshore boats from 27-34 ft.

“Midrange CB travellers share the same breakthrough advancements made on their smaller counterparts”, said Harken engineer Jon Malcolm. “The fully machined bearing races provide smooth operation and the captive bearing feature takes the hassle out of installation and maintenance.”

Midrange CB traveller cars are available with stainless steel car-mounted control blocks or toggle-mounted control blocks designed to be used with Harken's 29 and 40mm Carbo Blocks. Toggle cars have low pivot points for efficient load transfer and allow the mainsheet and control blocks to be attached directly to the block swivel post. The toggle also serves as a stand-up for the mainsheet.

Captive ball bearings allow the cars to slide easily on and off the track. Lost balls are never a problem. The re-circulating ball bearing travellers move freely under non-vertical loads on the car and feature a low-profile car design.

Retail price for this is £113.05.



New slider battcars

Thanks to an innovative low friction thermoplastic compound, Harken’s new Slider Battcars offer a lightweight and cost effective way to raise, lower and reef mainsails. Battcar recepticles pivot up and down, side-to-side, and rotate to handle compression, tension and twisting loads. The compact size of the cars translates into reduced weight and stack height. The sail is also easy to take off. Simply remove the pinstop and slide cars (with sail) off the track.

“What’s really great about System A Slider Battcars is they are designed to work with our ball bearing track,” said Harken engineer Jon Malcolm. “This enables sailors to upgrade to ball bearing Battcars or combine Slider and ball bearing Battcars if it suits them.”

System A Slider Battcars are suitable for boats of 27-48ft LOA. The headboard assembly uses two cars to handle the high load and is designed to fit most mainsail headboards. These new slider systems are currently available in System A versions only.



Radial traveller and traveller vang block

Harken has introduced a Radial Traveller Car into their Captive Ball Traveller line. The curved ball path in the car eliminates the need for a two-car system, allowing one longer car to travel on a tighter radius. The system is ideal for Star Boat or C-Scow radial traveller vangs, or smaller radius traveller systems on boats to 28 ft.

“This is the first traveller car to have a machined ball bearing race to fit extremely curved track,” said Matt Pederson, designer and engineer. “This means the load is distributed evenly to each ball so the car will roll smoothly under high loads.”

The Radial Traveller Car is lower and simpler than the two-car systems. It runs well under high loads and has an easily removable sheave for quick rigging and de-rigging. The captive ball bearings allow cars to be removed from the track without losing balls.

To complement the new car, Harken has designed a Radial Traveller Vang Block. The sheave is made of Hardkote anodized, Teflon-impregnated aluminium and features high-load composite bearings to handle wire halyards and high-strength line. Sideplates are high-strength stainless steel. The blocks are made for use with the 382 Radial Traveller Car, as well as other Small Boat cars.

The smallboat CB Radial Traveller Car costs £136.36.

For more information contact email Harken here .