An end stop keeps a genoa car or traveler car from sliding off the end of its track under load — Harken's own hardware-ordering guide calls for one whenever a car isn't already fitted with a full end control. MAURIPRO stocks matching end stops for Harken, Ronstan, Selden, Schaefer, and Antal tracks, from a $9.99 T-track cap to a shock-absorbing System 30 stop.
On a 30–45 ft cruiser, the genoa car or mainsheet traveler car earns its keep by sliding — that's the whole point of putting it on a track. But every track has to end somewhere, and what's sitting at that end matters more than most sailors realize until the day it's missing. A car that runs past its own end control, or a bare track end with nothing on it at all, doesn't gently coast to a stop; it either slams into the raw aluminum edge of the extrusion or, on an older or damaged track, keeps going. Either way, the load that was in the sheet or control line a second earlier is now on gear that was never built to take it.
The part that's supposed to prevent that is the end stop — sometimes sold as an end cap, or as an end control once it adds a line-handling sheave. It's a small, inexpensive fitting, but it's brand- and size-specific: a Harken stop won't fit a Selden track, and a 22mm stop won't fit a 32mm one. This guide walks through matching an end stop to your track, when a plain stop is enough versus when you actually want an end control, and the five stops MAURIPRO stocks across five different brands.
End stops at a glance
| Fitting | Track / series | Type | MAURIPRO SKU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harken Endstops Heavy-Duty, Low-Beam | 22mm (7/8 in) Small Boat track | Simple endstop, sold as a set of 2 | HAR263 | $38.95 |
| Ronstan Track End Stop | Series 22 T-track | Simple endstop | RONRC12281S | $48.99 |
| Selden Genoa End Stop | System 30 track | Composite body, replaceable shock-absorbing rubber insert | SEL44314201 | $48.99 |
| Schaefer End Stop (Black) | 25mm (1 in) T-track | Simple endstop | SCH74-35 | $9.99 |
| Antal Endstop Pin Slider | 4Race 100 track (26 x 20mm), Car Size 100 | Stop pin slider, hard black-anodized aluminum | ANT691421 | $84.95 |
What does an end stop actually do?
Harken's own hardware-ordering guide is direct about it: “When end controls are not used, add endstops to absorb shock loads.” That points to two different jobs depending on what's already on your track. If your car runs into a full end control — the fitting that also carries a sheave for a 2:1 adjustment line — that end control is already doing the stopping. If it doesn't, a plain end stop needs to be there instead, or the car has nothing between it and the raw end of the track.
End stop or end control — which does your track need?
Harken's own guidance also draws the line between a plain stop and a full end control: a simple endstop just absorbs the hit, while an end control mates with the control blocks on the car to complete a 2:1, 3:1, or 4:1 purchase system and includes a deadend for the line. MAURIPRO's Selden Genoa End Stop for System 30 is built for the plain-stop role: a composite body with a replaceable, shock-absorbing rubber insert, with no line-handling function of its own. Ronstan's Track End Stop and Antal's Endstop Pin Slider are also plain stops rather than sheaved end controls — neither fitting carries a sheave of its own, so if your car's control line needs a full end control instead of a backstop, confirm that with MAURIPRO before ordering.
How do you match an end stop to your existing track?
Start with what's stamped on the track or the old fitting: brand, then series or system number, then the track's width in millimeters. Harken sizes its endstops to specific track widths and to whether the track is low-beam (supported along its full length) or high-beam (spanning an open run, like a companionway); Selden groups its tracks by System number (15, 22, 30, 30 Performance, 42); Ronstan and Antal use their own Series and car-size numbers. None of these are interchangeable across brands even at a similar nominal width, because each builder's extrusion profile is proprietary. If you can't read the old part, measure the track's top width and take a photo of any markings before ordering.
What if your track never had a stop, or the original one is missing?
Not every track ships with a shock-rated stop at both ends from the factory, and on older boats a plastic end fitting can crack, chalk out, or simply disappear over a few seasons without anyone noticing until the car reaches it. That's a bigger deal than it sounds: a car that comes off the end of its track mid-tack, under sheet load, can take the sheet, the sail trim, and potentially a crew member's fingers with it. If you're not sure whether your track has a rated stop at each end, or you know one is missing, that's worth fixing before it's tested by a gust rather than after. Schaefer's simple 25mm T-track stop is MAURIPRO's least expensive option for a plain replacement; Antal's Endstop Pin Slider, hard black-anodized for its 4Race 100 series (26 x 20mm track profile), is the heavier-duty end of the range.
Which end stop should you choose?
If you just need a basic backstop for a plain 22–25mm track, Harken's low-beam Heavy-Duty Endstop or Schaefer's T-Track End Stop cover that at the lowest cost. If your track is a Ronstan Series 22 or an Antal 4Race 100, MAURIPRO's matching Track End Stop or Endstop Pin Slider sized to your car is the direct replacement. If you're running a Selden System 30 self-tacking track, the factory Genoa End Stop with its replaceable rubber insert is the direct match. In every case, confirm the brand and size against your existing track before ordering — there's no universal end stop that fits more than one builder's extrusion.
Common mistakes to avoid
Ordering by boat length instead of by track. An end stop is sized to the track's brand, series, and width in millimeters, not to your boat's length overall — measure or read the markings on the track itself.
Assuming a similar nominal width interchanges across brands. A 22mm-class Harken stop, a 25mm Schaefer stop, and a Ronstan Series-22 stop are not the same fitting even though the numbers look close — each brand's track profile is proprietary.
Leaving a cracked or missing stop unreplaced. If the fitting at the end of your track is damaged, chalky, or gone, the car has nothing rated to stop it — replace it before it's tested by a loaded sheet rather than after.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a different brand's end stop on my track?
Not reliably. Harken, Ronstan, Selden, Schaefer, and Antal each use their own track extrusion profile, so an end stop is sized to fit one brand's track. Match the end stop to the brand and series stamped on your track, not just the width in millimeters.
What's the difference between an end stop and an end cap?
Per Harken's own hardware guide, they're not quite the same thing: endstops are built to absorb shock loads, while trim caps just finish off the track end cleanly without that shock-absorbing role. If your car can reach that end of the track under load, you want a rated endstop there, not just a cosmetic cap.
Do end stops come in pairs?
Some do — Harken's Heavy-Duty Endstop ships as a set of two (Mfr. # 263), since a simple track typically needs one at each end. Others, including the Selden, Ronstan, and Antal fittings above, are sold individually per MAURIPRO's own listings, so check the quantity before ordering enough to cover both ends of your track.
Can I replace a lost or broken end stop without replacing the whole track?
Yes — the end stop is a separate, replaceable fitting from the track and car. As long as you match the brand, series, and millimeter size, fitting a new end stop doesn't require swapping the track itself.
Does a bigger boat need a stronger end stop?
Size the end stop to your track and car system, not to boat length on its own. Ronstan's published applications for its Series 22 stop, for example, cover mainsheet systems to 10m (33 ft), genoa sheet systems to 11m (36 ft), and outhaul cars to 8m (26 ft) — the track and car system you're already running is what determines the right fitting.
See also: How Do You Choose a Genoa Car and Track for Your Sailboat?, How Do You Rebuild a Harken Traveler Car's Bearings?, and Which Ronstan Genoa Car and Track Series Should You Choose for Your Sailboat?.