Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Boat Tours, Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Hey You Blockheads: Free Stuff!
At Last! 4 Free Harken Parts Right Here—Just for Being a Blockhead. (Yep. They really are free. And
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Boat Tours, Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Advice & Inspiration, Boat Tours, Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Boat Tours, Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Get a Grip!
Slipping is no fun. You’re going to perform better if your feet stay where you put them. That’s
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Lubrication 101
You’ve probably heard of McLube. Maybe you use it on your Opti because Coach tells you to. But
Boat Tours, Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and 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?
Rigging, Tuning, and 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.
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Regatta, Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
The Rigger’s Craft—Precision Cutting
Pro tips for cutting line properly, use them to prevent unwanted core and cover unraveling.
Rigging, Tuning, and 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.
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Rope Stretch: Constructional vs. Dynamic
When should a line stretch, and when should it not? Join Kristian Martincic of Chicago Yacht Rigging to
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
What Does a Rigger Do?
Learn about the job of a professional rigger, and how they turn rope into line using specialized tools
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Rope Materials & Construction Methods
Not all rope is created equal. Learn about the different material types and methods used to construct the
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Spare Parts Essentials
Carrying the right spare parts is essential for making quick fixes when you’re on the water. Learn what
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Tuning Tips for the Laser
Follow along as John Pearce, US Sailing Youth Director, applies the Harken Blockheads tuning decal on a Laser
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Opti Tuning Tips
This is the first episode in a new video series that teaches you how to use a Harken
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and 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.
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
How to Whip a Line
Learn how to finish a splice or tidy up the end of a line by tying a whipping.
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Opti Boom Vang Upgrade
Check out this video for a few quick tips on upgrading your Opti boom vang.
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Upgrading the Opti Sprit Halyard
The sprit halyard is one of the most important sail controls onboard an Opti. The more you can
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and 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,
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Laser Rigging Tips
In this video, Brian Swingly, Head Coach at the US Coast Guard Academy, John Pearce, former Head Coach
Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Parts of a Block
Blocks have changed a lot over the years, and so have the terms used to describe their parts.
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, and 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
Maintenance & Repair, Rigging, Tuning, and Splicing
Check Your Lines
We use lines to control almost everything on a sailboat. These lines are often under a lot of
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