[doogymon]

Anybody know the differences? Timeline?
IIIs still available.
TY

 

[Van_Isle]

I'm not 100% sure of the differences, but I went for the Mk IV to maintain spare parts availability as long as possible. I'm very happy with my IV, replacing a '93 Mk 1 that had a damaged top foil section. The rest of the furler was fine, and I did find a new foil for it. The difference in repair cost between the two was essentially the cost of the new unit ... and it was on sale ... so I decided to go for the new one to avoid issues down the road with potential to find more discontinued parts. Plus, selling the old furler brought the net cost of the new one down to about $800.

 

[SHNOOL]

I know the IV has a removable drum, so you can easily use the furler as a racing foil/tuff-luff variety... So a lot of racing boats opt for this, that both race AND cruise.. So they are high-cut luff furled sail by day, and drop the drum off, and slide in the laminate deck sweeper by night.

Does the III have this same feature?

 

[doogymon]

Sailnet store has MKIIIs on sale (new products??). Confused. Can't find any articles on what improvements Harken made to get to the MK IV. Have read bypassing drum to use foils like a tuffluff. Have chance for a MKIII for half a boat buck.

 

[Faster]

I believe the MkIV has much better/easier access to the turnbuckle in the event you wanted to adjust that or remove the forestay. A couple of setscrews, a pin, and the whole drum assembly slides up the foil to expose the turnbuckle.

You might appreciate that down the road..

 

[doogymon]

Thank you once more for the collective SailNet knowledge on all things sail. : )