Advice, Inspiration, & Tours, Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
@SailBriggs on Optimist Setup
Briggs Kossman — also known as @SailBriggs on social media — spent time with Harken Blockheads to share his fine-tuned Opti rigging and setup for racing. His current rig setup has taken years to perfect. In this video, Briggs walks
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Ice Boating: How to Sharpen Your Runners
Harken Blockheads Ella Bowers, Maggie McGary, and Lily Olson show how to sharpen iceboat runners to get ready for winter iceboating. In this video, they explain when to sharpen your runners, how often to maintain them, and what tools are
Advice, Inspiration, & Tours, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
The Optimist: What Gear Goes Where?
Do you need to replace or upgrade a part on your boat? There can be a lot of options to choose from, but we've got a resource to help you out! This infographic shows you exactly what part goes where
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
3D Print FREE Parts – Harken Line Guard
At Last! 4 Free Harken Parts Right Here—Just for Being a Blockhead. (Yep. They really are free. And yep, there is a catch…in fact, there are lots of them!) We Harkenites have bunches of new ideas for equipment to
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Literally and Figuratively, Riley Gibbs is a Blockhead
He’s a great sailor! If it foils, Riley sails it. Moths. A-Cats. Nacra 17s. SailGP F50s. He’s an Olympian. And now he’s Helmsman with American Magic. Over the years, Riley has become a critical part of the Harken/Sailor new product
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Naples Sabot: What Gear Goes Where?
Ever wonder how to replace a part on your boat? We've got a helpful resource for you! This infographic shows you the ins and outs of Naples Sabot equipment. The red numbers show the Harken part numbers of the blocks
Advice, Inspiration, & Tours, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Laser Vang Walk-Through with Olympian Paige Railey
When you take care of your equipment, your equipment takes care of you. Laser Radial sailor Paige Railey from the US Sailing Team is headed to the Olympics for the third time this summer. Come on along for a tour
Advice, Inspiration, & Tours, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Innovation At The Front
Every quad, Cup, round-the-world race, and major world championship, Harken is listening — We’re on the docks chatting with the athletes about what’s working and what’s not. We want to know: How are the systems performing and underperforming? We ask
Advice, Inspiration, & Tours, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Club 420: What Gear Goes Where?
Ever wonder how to replace a part on your boat? We've got a helpful resource for you! This infographic shows you the ins and outs of Club 420 equipment. The red numbers show the Harken part numbers of the blocks
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Get a Grip!
Slipping is no fun. You're going to perform better if your feet stay where you put them. That's where Harken Marine Grip comes in. It's a thin, nonabrasive grip tape used to prevent slipping on deck or on dock. This
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Lubrication 101
You've probably heard of McLube. Maybe you use it on your Opti because Coach tells you to. But what does it actually do? When it's lubricated, almost anything that moves on your boat works more efficiently, runs more smoothly,
Advice, Inspiration, & Tours, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
How to Rig a Swedish Match 40
Calling all rigging nerds! Remember our friends at Oakcliff Sailing Center in Oyster Bay, New York? They have a fleet of Swedish Match 40s and host a dozen match race regattas every year. In this video, they walk us through
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
How to Customize the Engage Point on Your Ratchamatic Blocks
Did you know that you can customize Harken Ratchamatic blocks to better suit your strength and sailing style? The magic of ratchet blocks is they allow you to hold loads with little effort and ease loaded sheets with good control.
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
New knot skills…If knot now, when?
Know your knots! A solid knowledge base for knot tying will help you rig better and sail safer. There was a huge response to our most recent trivia contest about the sheet bend knot, so we thought you'd love this
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Why do some knots hold better than others?
This special kind of fiber changes color when it's under strain. Scientists are using it to study the stability of knots and how force is distributed. 👉 Listen for more details: Want to see? Strain On A Figure-Eight Knot
Regatta, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Blockhead Advice: Regatta Prep with McLube
Blockhead Advice: Before every regatta, Madeline Torrey always does one thing. She cleans, polishes, and protects her boat with a fresh coat of McLube HullKote.
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
The Rigger’s Craft—Into the Eye…of an Eye Splice
An eye splice works just like an Asian finger trap, capturing the tail inside the cover. To be sure it works right, how long should you make the tail?
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
The Rigger’s Craft—Precision Cutting
Pro tips for cutting line properly, use them to prevent unwanted core and cover unraveling.
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
The Ins and Outs of Ratchet Blocks
Explore the ins and outs of ratchet blocks and how they work with Chuck Lob, Harken Senior Engineer. This is a follow up to our previous video: Ratchet Blocks Give Your Hands a Break.
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Inside the Rigger’s Tool Kit
Peak inside the tool kit of professional rigger Kristian Martincic, to learn about the essential tools of the trade.
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Rope Stretch: Constructional vs. Dynamic
When should a line stretch, and when should it not? Join Kristian Martincic of Chicago Yacht Rigging to find out.
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
What Does a Rigger Do?
Learn about the job of a professional rigger, and how they turn rope into line using specialized tools and techniques. Featuring Kristian Martincic of Chicago Yacht Rigging.
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Rope Materials & Construction Methods
Not all rope is created equal. Learn about the different material types and methods used to construct the lines on your boat. Featuring Kristian Martincic of Chicago Yacht Rigging.
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
On The Water Fixes for the Club 420
You’ve properly inspected, rigged, and tuned your 420. Despite this, Murphy’s Law will eventually strike, and something will break. In this video, learn what can be fixed while out sailing, and what you will need to make it happen!
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Spare Parts Essentials
Carrying the right spare parts is essential for making quick fixes when you’re on the water. Learn what to bring along in your life jacket or dry bag that can help avoid day-ending breakages, featuring Taylor Martin, director of Pewaukee
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Tuning Tips for the Melges 14
Learn how to apply the Harken Blockheads tuning decal on the Melges 14 to create repeatable settings next time you hit the water. Featuring John Pearce, US Sailing Youth Director.
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Tuning Tips for the Laser
Follow along as John Pearce, US Sailing Youth Director, applies the Harken Blockheads tuning decal on a Laser to create fast, repeatable settings.
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Why & Where to McLube Your Laser
Laser sailors know that active control line adjustment is crucial to fast sailing. As a result, it’s important to identify and address potential friction points in the control systems that can lead to reduced efficiency and performance. In this video,
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Tuning Tips for the Club 420
Follow along as John Pearce, US Sailing Youth Director, applies the Harken Blockheads tuning decal on a Club 420 to create fast, repeatable settings. You can use the photos below to supplement the video: I. Jib Trim: A. Tie a line
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Opti Tuning Tips
This is the first episode in a new video series that teaches you how to use a Harken Blockheads Tuning Decal to create repeatable settings for your dinghy. In this episode, John Pearce, US Sailing Youth Director, applies the tuning
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
How to Rig an Adjustable Laser Hiking Strap
Learn how to ease and tension your hiking strap to adapt to changing conditions quickly. Move just one knot and you can go from loose and a full hike, to tight and in-touch with the boat.
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Securing Bungee with a Hog Ring
Bungee line is popular on dinghies for uses such as keeping hiking straps taught and tidying up lines. Installing bungee can be tough however, with knots often tightening too much or slipping out over time. Thankfully there is a great
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
How to Whip a Line
Learn how to finish a splice or tidy up the end of a line by tying a whipping. This video is a follow up to Making a 12-Strand Eye Splice. Whipping is an essential process for securing the tail of a splice
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Making a 12-Strand Eye Splice
Splicing can often seem like a daunting skill to learn. When done well, it more closely resembles art than a functional rigging application. Everyone, however, needs to start somewhere, and the 12-strand eye splice is an easy first project to
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Opti Boom Vang Upgrade
Check out this video for a few quick tips on upgrading your Opti boom vang.
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Upgrading the Opti Sprit Halyard
The sprit halyard is one of the most important sail controls onboard an Opti. The more you can actively adjust the halyard tension to match conditions, the better your boat will sail. This is why it’s super important to have
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Rigging a Quick-Release Opti Mainsheet
In search of awesome rigging upgrades for their Optis, Blockheads Jack Goggins and Chapman Petersen joined with professional rigger Olli Lubker for a trip to Harken World Headquarters one cold day in snowy Pewaukee, Wisconsin. First on the list was
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Ratchet Blocks Give Your Hands a Break
Peter Harken first designed the now iconic six-sided Hexaratchet® block in 1971. With a 17:1 holding power ratio, this meant that the trimmer had only to exert one (1) pound of force to hold 17 pounds of load. This leverage
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
The Small & Mighty 150 Cam-Matic
Harken Blockheads is a community of young sailors passionate about rigging, tuning, and boat maintenance. In the Blockheads community, they not only gain skills but also confidence and independence. Who knows, one day they might be competing in the America's
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Old School Rigging Aboard the Pride of Baltimore II
Pride of Baltimore II is a replica Baltimore Clipper topsail schooner that operates as a living example of what shipbuilding and crewing was like for sailors over two hundred years ago. The crew learn and employ a combination of old world
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Laser Rigging Tips
In this video, Brian Swingly, Head Coach at the US Coast Guard Academy, John Pearce, former Head Coach at George Washington University and now Youth Director at US Sailing, and Krysta Rohde, the 2007 ICSA Singlehanded National Champion, offer a
Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
Parts of a Block
Blocks have changed a lot over the years, and so have the terms used to describe their parts. Use this infographic to help remember the different parts of a block!
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing
McLube Hullkote: How to Apply
Regular cleaning and polishing of your boat’s hull can be one of the habits that gives you that extra speed through the water. McLube Hullkote is the go-to speed polish for all sailors wanting a clean and fast race-ready bottom
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, & Splicing