A sliding sheet car works by taking the sheet load on a car that runs along a track bolted to the deck, cabin top or boom, so you change where the sheet pulls from without re-rigging anything. The car and the track have to be the same width, and that width is what sets how much load the pair can take. Genoa cars move the headsail lead fore and aft; mainsail traveler cars move the mainsheet across the boat.
Sliding sheet cars at a glance
| Job | What slides | Track width | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headsail lead | Genoa car on a straight track | 1 1/16 in (27.0 mm) | Harken Genoa Car - ESP Slider Pinstop - For Tracks: 1 1/16 in (27.0 mm) |
| Headsail lead, adjustable under load | Genoa car with 2:1 sheaves | 1 1/16 in (27.0 mm) | Harken Genoa Car - ESP Adjustable CB - For Tracks: 1 1/16 in (27.0 mm) - w/ 2:1 Sheaves |
| Headsail lead, T-track boats | Genoa car with plunger | Size 2 | Lewmar Genoa Car - Ocean T-Track - Size 2 - w/ Plunger |
| Mainsheet, small boats | Traveler car, low load | 7/8 in (22.0 mm) | Harken Traveler Car 7/8 in (22.0 mm) - Low-Load - Fixed Sheaves & Eyestrap |
| Mainsheet, loaded rigs | Traveler car, High-Load 1250 | 7/8 in (22.0 mm) | Harken Traveler Car 7/8 in (22.0 mm) - High-Load 1250 - Fixed Sheaves, Eyestrap |
| Mainsheet, 4:1 purchase | Traveler car with 4:1 purchase | 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) | Harken Traveler Car 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) - Forged Shackle - Purchase: 4:1 |
| Dinghy jib lead | Jib lead with pinstop | Bail and pinstop | Harken Dinghy Jib Lead - w/ Bail & Pinstop |
How does a sliding sheet car carry the load?
The car sits on the track and the sheet pulls on the car, not on the deck. On a low-load car the body slides directly on the track; on a ball-bearing car the body rolls on bearings, which is what lets you move it while the sail is still pulling. Harken labels the loaded versions in the product name: the Harken Traveler Car 7/8 in (22.0 mm) - High-Load 1250 - Fixed Sheaves, Eyestrap is the High-Load 1250 version of the same 7/8 in (22.0 mm) car as the Harken Traveler Car 7/8 in (22.0 mm) - Low-Load - Fixed Sheaves & Eyestrap, which is the Low-Load one. Lewmar marks its bearing cars TB, as in the Lewmar Mainsheet Car (TB) - Size 3 - w/ Upstand & 2 Double CL Sheaves.
What track size does my car have to match?
The car and the track are a matched pair, and the width in the product name is the number to check before you buy either one. Measure the track you already have across the top flange and read it against the list below.
- Harken Track 16.0 mm Low-Beam Pinstop - Aluminum - Length: 0.98 ft (0.3 m) — the smallest track in this list, for dinghy and small-boat leads.
- Harken Track 22.0 mm Low-Beam Pinstop - Aluminum - Length: 3.3 ft (1.0 m) — a short length, useful for a single genoa lead position.
- Harken Track 27.0 mm Low-Beam Pinstop - Aluminum - Length: 6.6 ft (2.0 m) — the common cruising genoa track width.
- Harken Track 32.0 mm Low-Beam Pinstop - Aluminum - Length: 6.9 ft (2.1 m) — the widest Harken low-beam pinstop track in this list.
- Lewmar Track Drilled w/Plunger Holes - Aluminum - Length: 6.6 ft (2.0 m) - Size 1: 29/32 in (23.0 mm) — Lewmar Size 1, drilled for a plunger car.
- Lewmar Track Drilled w/Plunger Holes - Aluminum - Length: 6.6 ft (2.0 m) - Size 2: 1 3/16 in (30.0 mm) — Lewmar Size 2, drilled for a plunger car.
- Lewmar T-Track - Aluminum - Length: 4.9 ft (1.5 m) - 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) — Lewmar T-track, which takes the Ocean T-Track cars.
- Ronstan Track Series 26 Ball Bearing Traveller (Black) - Alloy - Length: 6.5 ft (1996.0 mm) — a Ronstan ball-bearing traveller track.
Antal writes the width and the thickness together, as in the Antal T Track - Simple Slider - Track Dimensions: 1 1/4 x 1/4 in (32.0 x 6.0 mm), because a T-track car has to clear both.
Update (October 2026): traveler track vs genoa track, track length and profile
A traveler track runs athwartships and moves the mainsheet’s lower attachment point side to side. Sliding the car to windward or leeward changes the boom angle without altering sheet tension, giving you independent control of twist and angle of attack. A genoa (jib lead) track runs fore-and-aft along the side deck and sets the sheeting position for the headsail.
Track length correlates with your boat’s beam and the mainsheet’s working angle, and profile size matters too: 32 mm is Harken’s Big Boat series (its 22 mm Small Boat and 27 mm Midrange series sit below it), while Selden’s 42 mm System 42 track is designed for mainsheet applications on large yachts.
| System | Typical length | Best for | Key trait |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 mm profile (e.g. Harken Track 32.0 mm CRX) | 9.8 ft (3.0 m) | Harken Big Boat series (about 32–50 ft) | Roller-traveler track, straight only |
| 42 mm profile (Selden Track System 42 High Beam) | 13.1 ft (4.0 m) | Large yachts (Selden System 42) | 85 mm high, 58 mm base; takes System 42 cars |
| Full-length racing track (Antal 4Race) | 19.7 ft (6.0 m) | Racing and long-travel setups | Max adjustment range |
Longer tracks move the car far enough outboard for proper twist control, and racing programs often choose maximum length for the widest adjustment range.
Genoa car or mainsail traveler car: which do I need?
They are not interchangeable even when the track width matches, because they pull in different directions. A genoa car takes a mostly fore-and-aft load along the track and sets the sheeting angle of the headsail. A mainsail traveler car takes an athwartships load and moves the mainsheet attachment across the boat.
- Headsail, pinstop: Harken Genoa Car - ESP Slider Pinstop - For Tracks: 1 1/16 in (27.0 mm).
- Headsail, adjustable under load with 2:1 sheaves: Harken Genoa Car - ESP Adjustable CB - For Tracks: 1 1/16 in (27.0 mm) - w/ 2:1 Sheaves.
- Headsail on T-track, Size 1 and Size 2: Lewmar Genoa Car - Ocean T-Track - Size 1 - w/ Plunger and Lewmar Genoa Car - Ocean T-Track - Size 2 - w/ Plunger.
- Mainsheet, 1/2 in (13.0 mm) track: Harken Traveler Car 1/2 in (13.0 mm) - Athwartships Loop.
- Mainsheet, 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) track with a stand-up toggle: Harken Traveler Car 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) - High-Load - Stand-Up Toggle - Purchase: 4:1.
Browse the two families in Genoa Cars and Mainsail Traveler Cars.
Update (October 2026): ball-bearing cars, control blocks, brand compatibility and mounting
Ball-bearing traveler cars, such as Ronstan’s Series travelers, cut friction dramatically compared with plain-sliding systems, so the car eases across the track even when heavily loaded — a real advantage when sailing shorthanded or in heavy air. Match the car to your track profile: mixing manufacturers usually means poor fit or the need for adapter hardware, so keep the track, car, and control blocks within one compatible system. Add a control-block kit sized to your track (27 mm or 32 mm, for example) to give the traveler enough purchase for precise adjustment.
Longer tracks need intermediate mounting points to prevent deflection under load, while shorter tracks can bolt directly to reinforced areas like coachroofs or bridge decks. Antal’s adjustable-fastener systems let you fine-tune track alignment on slightly curved deck surfaces and can be retrofitted to existing Antal tracks. Always confirm your deck is reinforced for the loads the traveler will see, and verify car-to-track compatibility before ordering.
When do I need a high-load or windward-sheeting car?
A windward-sheeting car holds the mainsheet to windward on its own as the boat tacks, so the traveler does not have to be dumped and re-trimmed every time. Harken puts the load rating in the name: the Harken Traveler Car 7/8 in (22.0 mm) - High-Load 1250 - Windward Sheeting is the windward-sheeting version at 7/8 in (22.0 mm), and the Harken Traveler Car 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) - High-Load Windward Sheeting 4500 - Shackle is the High-Load Windward Sheeting 4500 car on 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) track.
What do the end controls at the ends of the track do?
End controls stop the car and carry the control lines that pull it each way, so the track needs a pair sized to the same width as the car. They come as plain stops, as sheave boxes that turn the control line, and as adjustable pinstops.
- Harken End Controls - For Travelers: 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) - Double Sheave (Pair) — a pair with double sheaves for the control lines.
- Harken End Controls - For Travelers: 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) - Adjustable Pinstop — an adjustable pinstop, for setting a fixed position.
- Lewmar End Stop - Size: 2 - w/ Double CL Sheaves — the Lewmar Size 2 end stop with double CL sheaves.
The full set is in End Controls.
Do I need a powered line driver?
On a big rig the traveler and genoa leads carry more load than a crew can pull by hand, and a line driver moves the control line under power instead. They are sized by the motor, and the voltage is in the product name: the Antal Line Driver Electric - Voltage: 700W / 24V is the 700W / 24V unit, and the Harken Powered Block - 500 - FlatWinder - Voltage: 12V is the 500 FlatWinder on 12V.
See all of them in Line Drivers.
What about dinghies?
A dinghy jib lead does the same job on a much smaller scale. The Harken Dinghy Jib Lead - w/ Bail & Pinstop uses a bail and a pinstop, and the Selden Jib Car - System 15 - Pinstop (Starbord) is the Selden System 15 pinstop car, sold per side.
Both families are in Dinghy Jib Leads.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put any car on any track?
No. The car has to match the track width. A 7/8 in (22.0 mm) traveler car does not fit 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) track, and a T-track car such as the Lewmar Ocean T-Track Size 2 only fits T-track.
What does High-Load 1250 or 4500 mean on a Harken car?
It is Harken's own designation in the product name for the loaded version of that car size. The 7/8 in (22.0 mm) High-Load traveler car is the 1250, and the 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) High-Load Windward Sheeting car is the 4500.
What does a 2:1 or 4:1 car do?
Those are the purchase built into the car's own sheaves, so the control line pulls the car with mechanical advantage. The Harken ESP Adjustable CB genoa car is 2:1 and the 1 1/4 in (32.0 mm) traveler cars here are 4:1.
How long a track do I need?
Track is sold in fixed lengths, so pick the one that covers the range of sheeting positions you want: the Harken low-beam tracks here run from 0.98 ft (0.3 m) up to 6.9 ft (2.1 m), and the Lewmar drilled tracks are 6.6 ft (2.0 m).
What's the difference between a traveler track and a genoa track?
A traveler track runs athwartships and moves the mainsheet car side to side to control boom angle and mainsail twist. A genoa (jib lead) track runs fore-and-aft along the side deck and sets the headsail sheeting position.
How do I determine the correct track length?
Base it on your boat's beam and the sheeting range you want. Track is sold in fixed lengths, so pick the one that covers that range. Racing programs often choose maximum length for the widest adjustment range.
Should I choose a 32 mm or 42 mm track profile?
Let your existing system decide. 32 mm is Harken’s Big Boat track, and 42 mm is Selden’s System 42, designed for mainsheet applications on large yachts. Track and car must come from the same system, so choose the track first and then the matching car.
Are tracks from different brands compatible with each other's cars?
Generally no. Track profiles are brand-specific, so a Harken CRX track needs Harken-compatible cars, and mixing brands typically requires adapter hardware. Keep the track, car, and fittings within one system.
What is the advantage of a ball-bearing traveler car?
Ball-bearing cars greatly reduce friction, so they slide easily even under load. That means less effort to adjust the traveler and finer sail-shape control, which is especially valuable when sailing shorthanded or in heavy air.
Shop all travelers, tracks and genoa cars
You may also be interested in
- Adjusting Genoa Lead Cars
- Harken Curved Tracks: Which Bend Type Do I Need? (Traveler Track Guide)
- Harken Traveler Cars: Smooth, Efficient Mainsail Control (Selection Guide)
Last updated: October 26, 2026.