Harken history

Gary sold some of these early blocks to Lowell North and Buddy Friedrichs who were both gold medalists (Star and Dragon) at the 1968 Olympics.

In 1971, capitalizing on the success of the collegiate dinghy range and the international popularity of the growing block line, Harken/Vanguard soon moved into a bigger building in Pewaukee, Wisconsin.

Plummeting boat sales during the 1973 United States gasoline crisis forced employees to take turns being laid off.

Harken and Vanguard were selected to provide the molds, parts, boats, and equipment for the boats to be supplied at the 1980 Olympic Games in Russia.

Procyon won a prestigious 1991 Popular Science Innovation Award for recreation.

Harken SwedenIn 1998 Erich Hagen joined Harken as an exclusive distributor for Sweden and Norway.

Harken UKIn 1999, when distributor Clyde Marine restructured and sold Harken distributor Simpson Lawrence, the company's Harken connection, Andy Ash-Vie dug in his heels and said, "Enough is enough.

Young sailors like Augie Diaz, who would go on to become 2003 Rolex Sailor of the Year, arrived in droves to work on their boats and gave Peter and Olaf many ideas on improvements.

Sales and Service Office in Warsaw, PolandIn 2009 Managing Director Magdalena Rakowicz founded Harken's wholly-owned sales and service office in Warsaw, Poland.

The four made an agreement with a handshake that stood until Harken bought Accurate Products in 2010.

For the 34th Challenge held in perhaps the most ideal location for spectators and reliable breeze—San Francisco during the Northern Hemisphere Summer of 2013, Harken had its first radial hydraulic pumps in the action with multiple teams.

In the years since 2016, Harken Industrial has made two strategic acquisitions.