| Type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sailing |
| Founded | Waukesha, WI, USA (1967) |
| Headquarters | Pewaukee, WI, USA |
Harken Yacht Equipment is an international performance sailing hardware manufacturer headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The company was founded in a 60-foot trailer in 1967 by brothers Peter Harken and Olaf Harken. Originally, the brothers manufactured sailboats under the name Vanguard and kept the hardware business separate so they could sell to competing boatbuilders. Gary Comer, founder of Lands' End clothing company, advised and helped them distribute their first blocks by placing them in the Lands' End catalogue.
In 1986, Vanguard Sailboats was spun off to Stephen Clark in Rhode Island so that the brothers could focus on hardware. Harken hardware has been a dominant force in the racing segment for many years, making its Olympic and America's Cup debuts in 1976 and 1977, respectively.
Harken's primary manufacturing plants are in the Pewaukee headquarters and in Italy in Limido Comasco, Como. Harken has offices in USA: Rhode Island, California, Florida and France, Italy, Japan, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Today Harken racing equipment is known as a high-quality brand among sailors worldwide. Harken equipment may be found on racing boats as small as the 7-foot Optimist (dinghy) to Mega yachts and ocean racers.