Harken Electric Winches

Harken Electric Winches: Choose the Family, the Size, the Voltage and the Motor Position

Every winch in this collection is a self-tailing Harken with the motor built in, so one crew member can trim or hoist with a button. The title of each listing carries the family, the size number, the voltage, the finish, the number of speeds and the motor mount — for example Radial Size 46 - 12V / Aluminum Black / Two Speed / Right Mount. The Radial and Performa winches drive through two-speed gears (a low-power first gear for fast trimming, a higher-power second gear for fine-tuning loaded sheets), and on Sizes 60 and 70 you can also choose three speeds. This page covers the electric winches themselves; manual self-tailing winches are in Harken self-tailing winches.

Harken Electric Winch Families in This Collection

• Radial (Sizes 35, 40, 46, 50, 60 and 70): the cruising range, in Aluminum Black, Chrome, Chrome All and Bronze All, at 12V or 24V. Harken shapes the drum grip for each size, with diagonal ribs rather than an abrasive surface, to grip well and reduce line wear. Listed line diameters run from 8 to 14 mm on the Size 46 and 50, 8 to 16 mm on the Size 60 and 10 to 18 mm on the Size 70. A 48V Size 60 with a control box is also listed. Start with the Size 35, the Size 50, the three-speed Size 60 or the three-speed Size 70.
• Performa (Sizes 40, 46, 50, 60 and 70): Aluminum Black, with a sandblasted drum made for halyards and sheets in small-diameter, high-tech line and narrow composite jaws that hold it. The Size 40 takes 8 to 12 mm line and the Size 70 takes 10 to 16 mm. See the Size 40, the three-speed Size 60 and the Size 70.
• Rewind (Sizes 40, 46 and 60): a Radial with a patented rewind feature. Twin in and out buttons let you ease and trim a highly loaded sail in both directions without taking the line out of the self-tailer; a flip of the red knob on the winch base switches the feature on. See the Size 46 and the Size 60.
• UniPower (500 and 900): one-speed winches with the motor partly inside the drum, so it extends only 105 mm (4 1/8 in) below the winch base — made for boats with little space under the cabin top. The UniPower Radial 500 has a listed maximum pulling load of 500 kg and the Size 900 900 kg, both for 8 to 14 mm line, at 12V or 24V.

For comparison, the catalog lists these power ratios in first and second gear: Radial 35, 13.5 and 35.9; Radial 46, 11.7 and 46.5; Radial 50, 10.9 and 50.4; Performa 40, 13.5 and 39.9. A higher second-gear ratio means more mechanical advantage on the loaded sheet.

Choosing the Size

The size number reflects the winch's power ratio and drum, and you choose it by the load on the line, not by boat length alone. Primary sheet winches see the heaviest loads and take the largest size; halyard and control winches are usually smaller. If the load sits between two sizes, take the larger. Check the line diameter against the range listed for the size, then the drum and base diameters against your deck space. Our Harken winch guide goes through the families.

Voltage, Speeds and Motor Position

• 12V or 24V: match the boat's electrical system. A 24V winch draws roughly half the amps for the same power, which cuts voltage drop on long cable runs. Size 40 to 70 electric winches can draw well over 100 A under full load, so have the wiring and battery bank sized by a qualified marine electrician.
• Two or three speeds: Radial and Performa are two-speed up to Size 50. Sizes 60 and 70 are listed in two-speed and three-speed versions.
• Left, right or vertical mount: this is where the motor sits relative to the winch, chosen to suit the space below deck. The Size 35 is also listed in a horizontal mount with a dual function control box. Check the installation manual for your size before you order.
• Finish: Aluminum Black, Chrome, Chrome All or Bronze All on the Radial, Rewind and UniPower 900; Aluminum Black on the Performa.

What an Electric Winch Needs Besides the Winch

Per Harken's listing, each electric winch needs one control box, one circuit breaker, and either two analog switches or one Digital System Switch, and new Radial and Performa electric winches are supplied with the appropriate dual-function control box. The UniPower is different: Harken recommends the single-function digital switch DSSBK and the HCP1717 circuit breaker, sold separately. Parts are listed individually: the control box for Size 40 to 70 at 12V, the 80 A winch circuit breaker and the digital system switch.

Who It's For

Shorthanded crews, owners of larger sail plans who can no longer grind a loaded sheet or halyard, and refit projects replacing a winch whose size, motor mount and voltage have to match the deck and the electrical system. Harken's biggest installations are in Harken hydraulic winches, and parts for a winch you already own are in Harken winch spares and service kits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Radial, Performa, Rewind and UniPower?
Radial is the cruising range with a ribbed drum, Performa has a sandblasted drum made for small-diameter, high-tech line, Rewind adds powered easing in both directions, and UniPower is a one-speed, low-profile winch with the motor inside the drum.

What do I need to buy with the winch?
A control box, a circuit breaker and switches. New Radial and Performa winches include the dual-function control box, while the UniPower is sold without its switch and breaker. See the controls above and Harken's recommendation for the UniPower.

Can I make my manual Harken winch electric instead of buying a new one?
Often yes. Electric conversion kits for Radial Sizes 35 to 70 are listed as separate items in 12V and 24V, with the motor position in the title; see the Size 46 kit or the Size 60 vertical kit. A conversion kit fits only the same brand of winch; a Lewmar winch needs its own kit, covered in the Lewmar EVO conversion guide. Our guide to electric winches and conversion kits compares the options.

Should I choose 12V, 24V or 48V?
Choose the system your boat runs. 12V and 24V are listed for every family, and 48V only on the Size 60 Radial. Amp draw matters as much as the voltage, so size the cable and breaker to the winch.

Which motor mount do I need?
The one that fits the space below your deck. Left, right and vertical describe the motor position in the listing, and Harken's installation manuals show how the motor couples to each size. Measure the space under the winch before you choose, and see how to find the correct spare part for your Harken winch if you are matching an existing winch.

Related reading from our How-To Guides

• How to Choose Electric Winches, Conversion Kits and Accessories