Harken: Towable Genoa Leads

Towable Genoa Leads

When did you last move your genoa car? Can you move your genoa car? In these days of efficient headsail roller furlers which provide a very usable reefed sail, it becomes more and more important that you can and do move the lead.

With the greatest respect to the sailmakers out there, it is almost impossible to make a jib that does not require adjustment of the sheet lead when changing the effective area of the sail—a high-clewed Yankee sail will require the least movement, but to get the best out of even these sails, you still want to move the car. Tech Tip: Adjust your genoa car so the trim angle bisects the luff height. This improves boat speed and vastly prolongs sail life by reducing leech flutter.

Most sailors will change the position of the windward car so that the lead is improved after tacking...if your guess as to the new best position is correct.

Using a two-car towable ball bearing system, you can move the sheet lead without leaving the cockpit, see the effect on the sail, and you are not limited to the pinstop positions on the track. This lets you immediately adjust to the correct lead, giving you a new level of performance as the wind increases. You'll point higher, go faster, and heel less when you need it most.

The Harken ball bearing genoa cars have pivoting sheave carriers, with free-runing sheaves to match the change in lead angle, reducing resistance in the sheet to a minimum.

In order to install a ball bearing system, you'll probably have to change the tracks on your boat. While we understand that this can be quite an undertaking, the benefits are undeniable. You will find drawings for the genoa car systems www.harken.com/rigtips/genoa.php and system loading information at www.harken.com/charts/genoasysloading.php. This information is also in the Harken catalog.

You'll find answers to questions sailors ask about genoa traveler systems at: Genoa_TravelerSystems.php.

You can also email or call the Harken's friendly Tech Service Team for advice and problem solving.

Contact Tech Service: Harkentechnicalservice.aspx
Tel: 262-691-3320

Sam Bourne—Harken UK