Brushless Unipower winches reduce below-deck intrusion
The new Unipower 500 and 900 AD models are the first Harken winches to use brushless motors, with the complete drive system contained within the winch package. That removes the larger below-deck motor volume normally associated with powered winches and gives designers more freedom around cabins, lockers and deck structures.
Harken says the motors are also more energy efficient, allowing 12- and 24-volt installations to use a dedicated DC/DC converter while 48-volt systems can connect directly. On a performance cruiser, saving both electrical demand and hidden machinery space can be as useful as reducing the visible hardware footprint.
Multilayer captive winches handle more line in less drum space
The new Captive Multilayer 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0T systems are designed to store line in several layers rather than restricting it to a single wrap across the drum. A free-running sheave is used to manage the line during release and prevent it from piling incorrectly as the stored length increases.
The practical benefit is greater line capacity from a unit of comparable overall size. That can be important on modern sailing yachts where electric furling, sheets and control systems compete for increasingly crowded technical spaces while owners still expect clean decks and simple operation.
Titanium padeyes and aperture rings target cleaner deck layouts
Harken is also introducing low-profile titanium Flush Deck Padeyes in five sizes covering working loads from 3 to 16 tonnes. The base can be aligned with the load direction, and the fittings are intended for both new builds and refits where designers want deck hardware to sit more discreetly.
New Aperture Rings use a larger internal opening than conventional rings with similar working loads, helping more complex 2:1 control systems pass through the fitting without compromising sheet clearance. Both products follow the same design theme: preserve load capacity while reducing visual and physical clutter.
The updates reflect the wider move toward integrated sailing systems
Harken's Genoa display also includes Ether soft-attach blocks, DynaDrive powered winches and Spinlock safety equipment. Together, the products show how modern sailing-yacht hardware is moving toward lighter structures, electric actuation and easier integration rather than simply increasing component size.
For LYG sailing-yacht owners, these changes matter because deck hardware directly affects handling effort, reliability and usable space. A well-integrated powered system can make a larger yacht easier for a couple or small crew to manage, provided electrical supply, loads and maintenance requirements are engineered as one complete package.
Official sources: pressmare.it.
