Why is Harken so expensive?

[Capt. Clueless]

Not familiar with manufacturers names much, but why are Harken goods so expensive? I see used Harken goods on Faceache etc, and wonder if it's all hype or really superior to anything else? 35 quid for a shackle......................

 

[[70521]]

Quality does not come cheap.

 

[Motor_Sailor]

It's where they've decided to pitch their range in the European market. It's high end boat jewellery. They knew from the early days that people standing in a chandlery and hearing the sheaves spinning round was fantastic marketing. Other people's stuff didn't do that back then, so it sold itself.

In the US it's regarded more like regular everyday stuff, with Schaefer the premium cruiser stuff and the 'exotic' choice for race boats being the specialist imported French made stuff.

As a former American OEM Harken installer, I can assure you the markup on the UK retail price is substantial.

Is it worth it? Well, our only real complaints about it from the boats we built were that in the tropical sun, all the black plastic looked knackered in only a matter of months, the ball bearing went flat when used for high static loads like halyard blocks, and things (like the windward sheeting mainsheet traveller cars) were under developed and over marketed. Schaefer stuff looked better for longer on cruising boats.

But Harken always had a more range so you were able to complete installations in a consistent style. But these days I think Antel and Selden offer comparable quality and I would be interested in fitting out with Barton these days, and giving that a good testing. It looks better value for money.

 

[Ric]

But Harken always had a more range so you were able to complete installations in a consistent style.

I have also always though of Harken as over-priced for the quality. However, they are quite innovative and, as you say, offer a wider range of bits. I want to replace the cockpit-roof main-sheet traveller on my 31ft sloop at the moment, and have been extensively googling for a new system. I keep on ending up on the Harken site because it is the only manufacturer who offers all the bits of lego to build the system I want for my particular boat.

 

[Slowtack]

I had their windward sheeting traveller on my last boat, furler on this one.................good gear