Harken today announce the launch of a ‘revolutionary’ new winch design.

Harken claim their new Radial winches are 25 to 50 percent lighter for their size, allowing smaller winches to carry higher loads; shaped gripping surfaces for reduced line wear; stress-free seasonal maintenance, and one-person installation with easy upgrades to power. “We designed Radial winches from the deck up with three key ideas in mind: safety and long-lasting performance, streamlined installations, and hydraulic and electric upgrades as integral parts of the design,” said Technical Director Andrea Merello. “This all-new winch line represents a continuation of Harken’s goal of providing sailors with innovative ground-breaking products that will enrich their sailing experience.”

The drum’s gripping surface is shaped for each winch size and drum material, and features diagonal ribs (rather than textured materials) to maximize gripping power and greatly reduce line wear. When easing, other winches tend to push the line wraps up. The Radial grip works more like a screw, driving the wraps down when easing to keep them on the part of the drum where you have the best control.

See forthcoming issues of PBO for an exclusive behind the scenes look at the Harken factory and the first on-water test of the new winches.