Harken’s New Superyacht Furlers at METSTRADE 2026
Where should the furler sit, and can the crew still roll the sail if the drive fails? Those are two of the questions behind Harken’s new superyacht furlers, due to make their debut at METSTRADE 2026 in Amsterdam. The range includes below-deck models for a rigid foil or a torsion cable and a chainplate-mounted foil furler for installations where the drive needs to sit above deck.
Above or below deck
On the below-deck foil model, the drive sits beneath the foredeck. Harken says a spherical fitting transfers structural loads into the deck and a reversible gearbox lets the foil turn in response to sail loads. The layout leaves less hardware above deck, but the drive still needs room beneath it and a way for the crew to reach it for service.
The above-deck foil model mounts directly to the chainplate. Harken developed it with multihulls and refits in mind. On a refit, that arrangement is worth a look if space below deck is already spoken for. The space it takes up around the chainplate matters too, particularly when the crew is working at the bow.
The sail dictates what the drive turns
A foil furler turns the rigid extrusion around which the headsail rolls. With a torsion cable, the drive turns the cable to transmit torque along the luff. Harken’s below-deck cable model is built for the latter arrangement. For a separate application, see our guide to furling systems for Code Zero sails and asymmetric spinnakers. The same brochure lists a dedicated staysail furler with a quick-release connection for removable cable-equipped sails, a useful distinction if the crew regularly takes the staysail down and stows it between uses.
What happens if the drive stops?
Harken lists electric or hydraulic drive and a manual furling backup for the below-deck foil, below-deck torsion-cable and above-deck foil models. For a crew, the practical questions are where the manual input can be reached and what the procedure looks like on that particular boat. The answer is worth getting from the installer while the deck layout is still on the drawing board.
Harken will show the range at stand 12.520 during METSTRADE, from 17 to 19 November at RAI Amsterdam. Its launch materials give the show dates. They give no delivery timetable.