Ronstan genoa car hardware is organized into track series — 19, 22, 25 and 26 — each a different physical track profile, load rating and genoa-car size. Series 19 suits smaller cruisers and dinghies, 25 covers most 32–42 ft cruisers, and 26 handles bigger or higher-load rigs. Match new hardware to your boat's existing track series, not just the sail size — MAURIPRO stocks cars, tracks and end fittings across all four series.
A genoa car and track system only works as a system: the car has to fit the track it rides on, and the track has to be rated for the sheet loads your headsail actually generates. Ronstan groups its genoa car hardware into a handful of track series, and on a mid-size cruiser (~30–45 ft) picking the wrong series is the single most common way an otherwise-good car ends up not fitting.
This guide walks through what actually distinguishes Ronstan's genoa car track series, using MAURIPRO's live specifications for the cars, tracks and end fittings, so you can match new hardware to what's already on your boat — or size correctly for a new installation.
Ronstan genoa car and track series at a glance
| Component | Size | Load rating | Best for | MAURIPRO SKU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 19 – Composite Genoa Car, Loop Top | 57 mm car / 19 mm track | 220 kg M.W.L. / 440 kg B.L. | Small-to-mid cruisers and dinghies on 19 mm track | RON-RC91901 | $25.99 |
| Series 19 – Track End Control, Single Sheave & Becket | 78 mm | 245 kg M.W.L. / 675 kg B.L. | Control-line-led genoa cars on the same 19 mm track | RONRC11985 | $162.00 |
| Series 22 – Mast Gate Track | 22 mm track width (mfr. spec) | Not published — verify by car, not track alone | Step-up load path between compact 19 mm and full-size 26 mm systems | RONRC122903 | $41.99 |
| Series 25 – Composite Genoa Car w/ Plunger Stop | 80 mm car / 25 mm track | 400 kg M.W.L. / 800 kg B.L. | Most 32–42 ft cruisers | RON-RC72505 | $50.95 |
| Series 26 – Ball-Bearing Mast Track | 26.4 mm track width, 1.97 m length | Not published — verify by car, not track alone | Larger or higher-load cruising and performance rigs | RONRC126120 | $192.00 |
What do Ronstan's genoa car track series numbers actually mean?
Ronstan names its genoa car track systems Series 19, 22, 25 and 26, and the number tracks a real step up in size and load capacity — but it isn't always a literal, consistent millimeter measurement across every listed part. In MAURIPRO's own live catalog, the Series 22 mast-gate track's manufacturer technical spec lists a 22 mm track dimension, while its product title carries a mismatched 26 mm width figure copied from the Series 26 template — the kind of catalog inconsistency worth knowing about before you buy.
The reliable way to confirm compatibility is to physically measure your existing track's width and profile, or match the series number stamped or listed on your current hardware, rather than assuming the series number is always an exact millimeter spec on every component.
How do you know which series is already on your boat?
If you're replacing or adding a car rather than starting from a bare deck, the fastest check is the track itself: measure the width of the track's top slot where the car rides, and compare it against the series you're considering. Series 19 hardware is built around a roughly 19 mm track profile, Series 25 around roughly 25 mm, and Series 26 around a measured 26.4 mm per MAURIPRO's live technical data for the Series 26 ball-bearing track.
Don't mix series. A Series 25 car will not run safely, or at all, on a Series 19 or Series 26 track — the slot width and ball-bearing race (on ball-bearing tracks) are built to that one series' dimensions.
How much load does each series actually carry?
Where MAURIPRO's live product data publishes a Minimum Working Load (M.W.L.) and Breaking Load (B.L.), the numbers step up clearly with series size: the Series 19 composite genoa car is rated 220 kg M.W.L. / 440 kg B.L., its matching Series 19 single-sheave-and-becket end control steps up slightly to 245 kg M.W.L. / 675 kg B.L., and the Series 25 composite car with plunger stop is rated 400 kg M.W.L. / 800 kg B.L. — roughly double the Series 19 car.
Ronstan does not publish an M.W.L./B.L. figure on every track-only component (the Series 22 and Series 26 track sections in MAURIPRO's catalog list dimensions and weight but not a load rating), so for those parts size to the load rating of the car you're pairing with the track, not the bare track alone.
Composite slide car or ball-bearing track: which do you need?
Ronstan's genoa cars in the 19 and 25 series shown here use a composite slide design — a low-friction plastic slider rather than a ball-bearing race. It's simple, sealed against grit, and inexpensive to replace, which suits genoa cars that see moderate, occasional adjustment.
Ronstan's Series 22 and 26 mast-gate and ball-bearing tracks are built for setups where the car needs to move easily under load — frequent trimming, bigger genoas, or a car you adjust while sailing rather than only at anchor. The trade-off is a track that needs to stay clean; grit in a ball-bearing race increases friction and wear over time.
What's the difference between a plunger stop and a fixed loop-top car?
A plain loop-top car, like the Series 19 RON-RC91901 or Series 25 RON-RC72506, gives you a fixed attachment point and no built-in way to change position without unloading the sheet. A plunger-stop version of the same car — RON-RC91940 in Series 19, RON-RC72505 in Series 25 — adds a spring-loaded pin you retract to slide the car to a new position, then release to lock it against a track-mounted stop.
On a cruising boat you reposition for different headsails or wind angles, the plunger-stop car saves you from having to fully de-load the sheet just to move the car a few holes.
Common mistakes to avoid
Ordering a car by sail size instead of by existing track. A bigger genoa doesn't automatically mean you need a bigger series — if your boat already runs Series 25 track, stay in Series 25 unless you're replacing the track too.
Trusting a product title's dimension over the manufacturer spec field. As MAURIPRO's own Series 22 track listing shows, a title can carry a copied or mismatched figure; when the two disagree, verify against the technical specification field or a physical measurement.
Mixing composite-slide and ball-bearing components on the same track. A composite-slide car and a ball-bearing track (or vice versa) aren't interchangeable within the same series — confirm both the series number and the bearing type match.
Which Ronstan series should you choose?
If your existing track measures out to roughly 19 mm and you're on a smaller cruiser or dinghy, stay in Series 19 and choose the loop-top or plunger-stop composite car to match how often you reposition it. If you're re-fitting a 32–42 ft cruiser and the boat already runs a 25 mm track, the Series 25 composite car is the direct match, rated to nearly double the Series 19 car's load. For a bigger cruiser or a rig with meaningfully higher genoa loads, Ronstan's Series 26 ball-bearing track and matching cars are the step up — but confirm the load you need against the specific car, not the track alone, since MAURIPRO's published data doesn't carry a M.W.L./B.L. figure for the bare Series 22 or 26 track sections. When in doubt, measure your current track before ordering — it's the one figure a spec sheet can't get wrong for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a Ronstan Series 25 car on a Series 19 track?
No. Series 19 and Series 25 tracks have different slot widths and profiles, so a Series 25 car will not fit or run safely on Series 19 track, and vice versa. Match the car to the track series you already have, or replace both together.
Does a higher series number always mean a higher load rating?
In the parts MAURIPRO publishes load data for, yes — the Series 25 composite car (400 kg M.W.L. / 800 kg B.L.) is rated well above the Series 19 composite car (220 kg M.W.L. / 440 kg B.L.). But not every track-only component has a published M.W.L./B.L. figure, so confirm the rating on the specific car or end fitting you're buying rather than assuming from the series number alone.
How do I measure my existing genoa car track?
Measure the width of the track's top slot — the narrow channel the car's base rides in and locks under — not the overall track base width. Compare that measurement, plus whether the track is a composite-slide or ball-bearing design, against the series you're considering before ordering a car.
What's the difference between a genoa car and a track end control?
The genoa car is the sliding fitting that carries the sheet lead and moves along the track. A track end control, like the Series 19 single-sheave-and-becket unit, mounts at the end of the track and routes or anchors a control line used to reposition the car remotely, without walking forward to move it by hand.
Do all Ronstan genoa cars use the same attachment style?
No. MAURIPRO's Ronstan range includes loop-top cars for a fixed shackle or block attachment and plunger-stop cars that add a retractable pin so you can reposition the car along the track without fully unloading the sheet first. Pick based on how often you reposition the lead in practice.
See also: How Do You Choose a Genoa Car and Track for Your Sailboat? and How to Use a Mainsheet Traveler on a Sailboat.