Harken, Inc. is an international manufacturer specializing in performance sailing hardware, headquartered in
Pewaukee, Wisconsin, United States.[1] The company was founded in a 60-foot trailer in 1967 by brothers Peter Harken and Olaf Harken.[2] Originally, the brothers manufactured
sailboats under the name
Vanguard and kept the hardware business separate so they could sell to competing boatbuilders.[3]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.[4] 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.[5]
Harken's primary manufacturing plants are the Pewaukee headquarters and the Italian office in
Limido Comasco,
Como. Harken has sales and service offices in USA (
Rhode Island,
California,
Florida), France, Japan,
Poland,
Slovenia, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.[6]