Harken MKIV Unit 1 Furling Without Toggle 7411.10View all products in Furling

MKIV furlers feature multiple rows of free-rolling Torlon® ball bearings in high-load areas and computer-designed stacked bearing races which minimize friction for easy reefing and furling. The bearings require no lubrication or isolating seals. The strong, lightweight halyard swivel turns freely and reduces windage and weight aloft to minimize pitching and heeling. Stacked bearing races evenly distribute radial and thrust loads to ball bearings allowing foils to turn freely under halyard loads.

For performance and racing the independent halyard and tack swivels furl the sails center before the head and tack for improved sail shape and upwind pointing. The aerodynamic foil's double grooves and stainless steel feeder allow fast hoists, douses, and sail changes. A split drum and line guard comes off easily for use with full-hoist sails, making it ideal for club racing.

The MKIV drum installs over the existing turnbuckle and provides more furling power with a large inner spool diameter which increases mechanical advantage for powerful reefing and furling while the small outside drum diameter allows the unit to fit narrow bows or below deck. The MKIV unit rotates around the wire or rod headstay so furling bearings do not carry the headstay load for easy furling. An optional long link plate assembly can allow the drum to be raised off the deck to clear anchor gear, ideal for the performance minded cruiser.

Adaptable to fit a variety of rigging options; the required Toggle Assembly accepts a standard turnbuckle using swage, rod, Norseman or Sta-Lok terminals making for easy installation. The available Eye/Jaw Toggle can flip for fork or tang chainplate installation. A single stainless steel clevis pin provides access to the turnbuckle for adjustment.

Note: A Toggle Assembly will lengthen the forestay by approximately 3" and in the majority of cases will necessitate shortening the headstay. The purchase of a Furling Unit might be a good time to consider replacing the existing headstay with a new one. This gives the benefit of better performance from a headstay that is the correct length and the assurance of knowing there is a new piece of rigging under the Furling Gear, which is obscured from daily view.

Strong foil joints with triple-interlock foil joints withstand years of torque loading. The connectors geometric shape interlocks to the foil and secures with a syringe-injected adhesive into an engineered channel. Screws provide the final lock. The easy to assemble foils with C-shaped open connectors and low friction plastic isolators slip onto the headstay wire and into the foil for easy installation - no need to feed connectors through the foils.

"An easy-working, dependable furling system is a must for modern racers and performance-oriented cruisers. It lets you smoothly unfurl your headsail in light air instead of hoisting a large genoa, and trim from the cockpit when it blows. All this while maintaining great sail shape and optimal boat speed. If you're sailing shorthanded or solo, the MKIV is a reliable ‘crew' member." - Greg Hartlmeier, Harken Senior Engineer / Furling Technical Manager.