Harken travelers are lightweight, strong and free running. Below are answers to questions we're often asked on how to go about choosing the right hardware for your boat.
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traveler Cars
Can I use any Harken traveler car on any Harken track?
Harken traveler systems are grouped into seven basic families and are not interchangeable. These
families are Micro, Small Boat, Midrange, Big Boat, Mini-Maxi, Maxi and CRX. After you select the proper
group, you must choose traveler components from the same group.
Can I use Harken ball bearing traveler cars on other manufacturers' track?
No. Harken ball bearing cars fit on their own family of Harken track.
For example, Harken Big Boat cars fit Harken Big Boat track.
How do I know what size traveler to put on my boat?
The size of your traveler depends on your boat's sail area, the location of the mainsheet on the boom
(end-boom, mid-boom) and whether the boat is a mono or multi hull. When you know this information, go to
Use Chart.pdf. This guide will help you select the right hardware for your boat. If you have questions, please call Harken Technical Service
at 262-691-3320 or email Technical Service
How do I tell whether I have Delrin® or Torlon® ball bearings in my traveler car?
Delrin ball bearings are white or black and only used in lighter load applications. Torlon bearings are a green/brown color
and used in high-load cars.
How do I take my classic non CB traveler car off the track without losing the balls?
To stop the balls from spilling I use the blue car loader that came with the car. If you've misplaced
it, please contact
Technical Service or Customer Service at
262-691-3320. Let us know whether your boat has Small Boat, Midrange or Big Boat track and we'll send you the correct
loader asap.
Can I use Harken ball bearing genoa lead cars on my existing T-track?
No. Harken recirculating traveler cars only work with recirculating ball bearing traveler track.
How do I make my mid-boom cabin top traveler dodger friendly?
With a Harken Dodger Block Kit. The blocks will route traveler control line down under the dodger to a block
on the deck that turns the lead 90-degrees aft to a cam, clutch or winch.
Can I turn my Harken mainsheet traveler car into a windward sheeting car?
Yes. Windward sheeting adapter kits are available to turn standard Harken cars into windward sheeting cars.
Can I use the Midrange stand-up toggle in my Midrange windward sheeting car?
No. the Midrange toggle will not allow the windward sheeting apparatus to slide athwartships far
enough to fully open and close the cams.
Why should I use ball bearing genoa lead cars?
You should use ball bearing genoa lead cars with a multi-part purchase so you can adjust a loaded headsail
from the cockpit.
How do I maintain a CB car?Check out the installation sheet at www.4970.php.
You'll need Adobe Acrobat to download the PDF.
traveler kits
What components are in traveler kits?
Traveler kits
#2739, #1630 and #3175 contain the car, car end controls, and track end controls with
a 4:1 purchase. The Small Boat #2739 & Midrange #1630 feature the long high-load cars, while the #3175 kits contain the short #3164 car. You must purchase track and track end caps separately. Remember.
Harken cars only run on Harken track.
track
How do I know what size Harken track is on my boat?
The quickest way to figure out your boat's track family is to measure the width of the track
across the top. This information will tell your Harken technician or customer service representative whether
you have, for example, a Midrange or Big Boat system. They can tell you what parts you need.
Track Widths:
Micro: 1/2" (13 mm)
Small Boat: 7/8" (22 mm)
Midrange: 1 1/16" (27 mm)
Big Boat: 1 1/4" (32 mm)
What is the minimum radius (curve) my Harken car will run on?
Micro Cars: 42" (1.07 m)
Short Small Boat Cars: 42" (1.07 m)
Long Small Boat Cars: 80" (2.03 m)
Short Midrange Cars: 96" (2.44 m)
Long Midrange Cars: 108" (2.73 m)
Short Big Boat Cars: 96" (2.44 m)
Long Big Boat Cars: 216" (5.49 m)
Call Harken Tech Service for advice on curved track.
How do I figure out track radius?
The track curve is described in terms of chord length and chord depth. If we use the St. Louis arch as an
example, the chord length is the distance between the two parts of the arch that touch the ground. The chord
depth is the distance from the ground to the middle of the top of the arch. Measurements are taken in a straight line.
How do I get a curved traveler track?
For a modest fee, Harken will be happy to bend your track and match it to your chord length
and depth information, drawn or scribed line, or to the old track if a customer sends it to us
to use as a pattern.
You can put a slight curve into the track by using the fasteners to bolt it down into place. Start in the middle and then alternate
back and forth, portside to starboard side, using the fasteners to draw the trace down. Note: This places the fasteners
under a greater strain.
Can Harken cut my traveler track to length, or can I cut it myself?
Either works. We can cut aluminum track to length for a cut fee of $30, or you can cut it yourself. All you need
is a hacksaw. Tips: Measure twice, cut once. Leave room for the trim caps or end stops.
What's the difference between 32 mm and 1 1/4" T-Track
Differences in track width are negligible (.01 or .25 mm). 
The real differences are found in the thickness of the top
part
of the T. The top bar on metric track is 6 mm, while the top bar on English track is slightly thinner. Measure the hole
spacing to find out if you have English or metric track: Metric = 100 mm (3 15/16") on center. English is 102 mm (4.00") on center.
Can I put a ball bearing genoa lead car on my T-track?
No. The ball bearings require special track to recirculate. You can use our 1998 car with Delrin® sliders. It works
almost as well as a ball bearing lead car without the hassle of changing track.
If your Harken T-track cars don't fit your existing T-track it is probably a simple matter of changing the slider inserts in the car body. Call Harken Tech Service: 262-691-3320
I want to mount new traveler track on my boat,
but my old track has 3.00" (76.2 mm) on-center hole spacing. How do I solve this?
Use either Midrange or Big Boat Slide Bolt Track. The bolts slide to any position so the track will adapt to
any odd length hole spacing.
Can I add more purchase to my traveler controls without buying new track end controls?
Yes. You can convert Classic Harken end control blocks from single to doubles by adding a
sheave to your end control block. Part # for conversion kits: Small Boat–HSB138; Midrange–HMR24S and HMR24P.
The P and S after the part# indicate port and starboard.
Big Boat–HBB47. The part# is the same for port and starboard.
Note: CB track end controls can't be converted.
Look at the end or side to differentiate between CB and non CB track. |
Will Small Boat CB cars fit my old-style traveler track?
No. CB cars require CB track! This track features small grooves to clear the car's ball-return clips.
To find out your track style, check
its part # stamp or look for grooves as shown in the drawing.
What happens if I slide a CB car onto a non-CB track?
The CB car will not roll onto the track. It will not even start to roll. You will need a hammer to force it on!
If I have a CB track, but an old car, will this work?
Yes. You can use CB track with an old-style car.
What If I remove the wire ball loading clips, load balls using a plastic car loader and roll it onto the track
Sorry it won't work. The clips do more than hold the balls captive. They guide the balls from return to active race and turn the balls around the corner. The car seems to roll without the clips, but the balls skid, creating a squealing sound. Soon the balls flatten and you're left with a poorly-working slider car.
My car is running rough. Could it be missing the clips?
To find out if clips are missing, look at the car end. There should be bronze-colored wires running in the grooves. No wires, no clips, no rolling! If your car is a non CB car, it probably just need a good cleaning.
Harken traveler cars feature ball bearings held captive by wire clips so cars roll on and off the track. |
Small Boat Low-Profile CB Track:
Metric: 2720, 2725
Variable Hole Spacing Track: 2721
Retrofit 4.00" Hole Spacing Track: 373, 374
Midrange CB Track:
Metric:
1616, 1617
Variable Hole Spacing Track: 1618
Retrofit 4.00" Hole Spacing Track: 1602
Big Boat CB Track:
Metric—3154, 3155, 3162
Variable Hole Spacing Track: 3156
Retrofit 4.00" Hole Spacing Track: 3159
converting end-boom to mid-boom sheeting
Is it hard to change my mainsail traveler from an end-boom to mid-boom system?
We hear this question from sailors who used to race but now want to go cruising. The boom is like a lever arm and the loads at the end of the boom are much less than the loads in the middle. As a result, changing from end-boom to mid-boom
sheeting is not simple. If your boat came end-boom sheeted, and you move it to mid-boom, the loads double! The manufacturer may not have designed the boom to handle these increased loads.
Here are things to check before taking on a project like this.
• Will my old traveler car meet the working loads required for a mid-boom sheeting system?
If you have a Midrange traveler that's on the upper end of its working loads, you'll probably need
to upgrade to a Big Boat traveler system.
• Does your traveler track span unsupported areas?
If so, use high beam track.
High beam track spanning charts:
Small Boat Midrange Big Boat
• Can your mainsheet handle the loads? Can you?
If you're sheeting by hand, you might need new blocks with greater mechanical advantage to
manage the mid-boom sheeting.
• Can the boom hold the new loads?
Find out by contacting the boom manufacturer. Some booms develop "smiley faces" after
moving the sheeting system forward. This doesn't necessarily mean you need a new boom, but find
a way to help the boom deal with the high loads. For example, instead of point loading the boom with a single attachment, you can use multiple attachment points
to spread the load.
•How strong is the mounting surface?
The mounting surface on the deck may not be designed to handle the loads. Backing plates or reinforcements can help
spread the load over a bigger area.
Links:
Website: Traveler Tuning
Website: Windward Sheeting
Website: Mainsheet Traveler Control Blocks
Copyright© 2008 Harken, Inc. All rights reserved
If you would like to link to or reprint this article please contact Brownie Lewis
