The Ronstan Series 42 Outhaul Car (RC14241A) is a track-mounted outhaul car that attaches via a fixed 20mm stainless steel clew pin and rides on Torlon ball bearings along the boom's T-track, giving you a low-friction, low-maintenance turning point for the mainsail outhaul. It slides along the standard T-track on your boom to provide that low-friction turning point, and it is sized for mid-range performance cruisers and cruiser-racers roughly 25 to 45 feet in length.
Ronstan Series 42 Outhaul Car at a glance
| Specification | Ronstan Series 42 Outhaul Car (RC14241A) |
|---|---|
| Series / platform | Ronstan Series 42 |
| Attachment | Fixed 20mm stainless steel clew pin |
| Bearings | Torlon ball bearings along the T-track |
| Line sizing | No max line diameter published by Ronstan — sizing is governed by the 20mm clew pin fitting; confirm your outhaul line's clew attachment fits it |
| Mounting | Standard boom T-track (slides in from the open track end) |
| Typical boat size | ~25–45 ft, depending on sail area and rig tension |
| Best use | Boom-mounted mainsail outhaul control systems |
What is the Ronstan Series 42 Outhaul Car and what does it do?
The Ronstan RC14241A is a track-mounted outhaul car that slides along your boom's T-track on Torlon ball bearings, providing a low-friction turning point for the outhaul line. It attaches via a fixed 20mm stainless steel clew pin — a rigid, purpose-built fitting rather than a soft attachment — which secures the car to the clew end of the mainsail foot or to the outhaul purchase.
(Ronstan does make a spliced-Dyneema-loop-and-clip soft attachment, but that's a feature of its separate Orbit Block line, where it replaces a block's head shackle — it isn't part of this Series 42 outhaul car.)
Used as part of a purchase system, an outhaul car redirects and multiplies the force applied to flatten or ease the mainsail foot. Unlike a standard deck-mounted block, an outhaul car must travel along a fixed track, so it needs to be low-profile, snag-resistant, and able to handle the side loads that develop as the boom flexes under sail. The Series 42 designation refers to Ronstan's car family sized for medium-load control applications.
How are sailboat blocks measured — and does the RC14241A fit your system?
Sailboat blocks are typically measured by sheave diameter (the rotating wheel inside the block) and maximum line diameter the sheave can accept, with working load as a secondary figure. The RC14241A is a car, not a sheave block, so it doesn't carry a line-diameter rating the way a block does — fit is governed by the 20mm clew pin, so confirm that dimension matches your clew attachment or purchase hardware rather than measuring line diameter.
To confirm fit, measure the T-track slot on your boom; the RC14241A is designed for the standard metric T-track found on most aluminum booms. If you are replacing an existing outhaul car, the clip width must match your track profile exactly.
| Boat / application | Outhaul purchase type | Compatible with RC14241A? |
|---|---|---|
| J/24 (24 ft) | Light single-line outhaul | Marginal — consider a smaller series |
| Catalina 30 (30 ft) | Standard outhaul purchase | Yes |
| Beneteau 40 (40 ft) | Standard outhaul purchase | Yes |
| Hunter 45 (45 ft) | Heavier outhaul purchase | Yes — confirm clew pin and track profile match |
How does the Ronstan Series 42 compare to Harken and other blocks?
Sailors frequently compare Ronstan and Harken before committing to a hardware upgrade. Both brands build to high standards but differ in design philosophy. Harken blocks — including the Carbo series and many ratchet models — tend to prioritize ultra-low friction through ball-bearing sheave designs, which delivers slightly lower friction under sustained load.
Ronstan's Series 42 platform prioritizes robust, low-maintenance construction: Torlon ball bearings on the track interface plus a rigid stainless clew pin rather than a shackle-and-pin assembly, reducing the number of wear points on a fitting that cycles every time the outhaul is adjusted.
Ronstan has manufactured performance sailing hardware since 1953 and builds to ISO-certified standards, so reliability is not the deciding factor between the two brands — the right choice depends on load-cycle frequency, budget, and spar compatibility.
How do you attach the RC14241A outhaul car to your boom?
Installation requires no specialized tools. Ease the outhaul completely so the boom track is under no tension, then slide the existing car to the open aft end of the track and disconnect the outhaul line or purchase from it. Orient the RC14241A clip to the T-track slot, slide it into the track from the open end, and advance it to your working position near the clew end of the boom — confirming the clip is fully engaged and the car slides freely without binding. Finally, connect your outhaul line or purchase to the car's 20mm clew pin, and run the working end aft through any additional blocks or clutches in the purchase.
Frequently asked questions
What is an outhaul car on a sailboat?
An outhaul car is a track-mounted fitting that slides along the boom and provides a low-friction attachment point for the outhaul, which flattens or eases the mainsail foot. The Ronstan Series 42 car does this using a fixed 20mm stainless clew pin and Torlon ball bearings, not a shackle-and-pin assembly.
What line size does the Ronstan Series 42 Outhaul Car take?
Ronstan doesn't publish a maximum outhaul line diameter for this car — sizing is governed by the 20mm clew pin fitting, so confirm your outhaul line's clew attachment or purchase hardware fits that pin before buying.
Does the Series 42 car use a Dyneema loop attachment?
No — that soft-attachment feature belongs to Ronstan's separate Orbit Block line. The Series 42 Outhaul Car attaches via a fixed 20mm stainless steel clew pin.
Is Ronstan as reliable as Harken for outhaul systems?
Yes. Ronstan has built performance sailing hardware since 1953 to ISO-certified standards. Harken tends to offer marginally lower friction through ball-bearing sheaves, while the Ronstan Series 42 emphasizes a low-wear-point, rigid-pin design — both are dependable choices for outhaul duty.
What boats is the RC14241A suited for?
It is designed for mid-range performance cruisers and cruiser-racers roughly 25 to 45 feet, depending on sail area and rig tension. Smaller boats may be better served by a lighter series such as the Ronstan Series 22.
Does installing the outhaul car require tools?
No. Slide the clip into the boom T-track from the open end, advance it to the working position, and connect your outhaul purchase to the car's clew pin.
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