Harken Gizmos are small anodised aluminium bushings that line a hole through the deck, so a rope or soft loop can pass through without chafing the line or damaging the deck. The range has three parts: single through-deck bushings, double through-deck bushings, and padeye kits that turn a double bushing into a watertight soft padeye. We now stock the full Harken Gizmos range: 32 parts in sizes from 6 to 16 mm.
This guide explains what each type does, how to choose the right size, and what to check before you drill.
Harken Gizmos: single and double through-deck bushings
Any line that passes through the deck rubs on the edge of the hole. Without a bushing the rope wears, the cut edge of the deck is open to water, and on a cored deck the core can start to rot. A through-deck bushing gives the line a smooth, rounded, hard-wearing surface and seals the hole.
Typical uses include leading control lines from the cockpit to below deck, taking reefing or vang lines through a cabin top, and anchoring soft-attach blocks for barber haulers or other adjustable leads.
The size of each Harken Gizmo (6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16 mm) is the inside diameter of its bore.
Harken Gizmo Single through-deck bushings
Harken describes the single bushing as an easy-to-install option for lower loads and fairly fair leads, where the line enters at a small angle and runs fairly straight inside. It is a one-piece tube with a flange on top. You seal it into the hole from above. The texture on the shaft gives the sealant something to grip; it is not a load-bearing thread.
Harken's advice is to think about the angle of deflection as well as the load. The more the line bends as it passes through, the harder it loads the bushing, and a double may then be the better choice.
Harken Gizmo single bushing sizes
Harken part no. | Inside Ø (mm) | Hole Ø (mm) | Flange Ø (mm) | Max deck thickness (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
9060 | 6 | 10 | 18.5 | 20 |
9061 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 30 |
9062 | 10 | 16 | 28 | 30 |
9063 | 12 | 18 | 31.2 | 30 |
9064 | 14 | 22 | 40.8 | 30 |
Single bushings are designed to be cut to length, so one part can be made to fit almost any deck. On a thinner deck you simply trim a single bushing with a hacksaw to match the deck thickness. Take care to smooth the cut end so it cannot chafe the line, and bear in mind that the cut end loses its radiused edge and anodising.
Harken Gizmo Double through-deck bushings
The double bushing is the structural option. Its two halves screw together from above and below the deck, clamping the deck between two flanges. That lets it take non-fair leads and loads from either side of the deck. Harken suggests doubles for soft-attach loops, for protecting a line from wear and for keeping lines separated.
Because the two halves clamp the deck, you choose a double by deck thickness as well as by bore size. The four digits after the point in the part number give the deck band: 9072.1828, for example, is a 10 mm double for decks 18 to 28 mm thick.
Choosing a Harken Gizmo double by deck thickness
Harken part no. | Inside Ø (mm) | Deck thickness bands (mm) | Hole Ø (mm) | Flange Ø (mm) | SWL (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9070 | 6 | 6–8, 8–10, 10–13 | 14 | 24.9 | – |
9071 | 8 | 8–10, 10–13, 13–18, 18–28 | 16 | 28.1 | – |
9072 | 10 | 10–13, 13–18, 18–28, 28–48 | 18 | 31.2 | 700 |
9073 | 12 | 10–13, 13–18, 18–28, 28–48 | 22 | 40.8 | 1,500 |
9074 | 14 | 10–13, 13–18, 18–28, 28–48 | 25 | 47.6 | 2,300 |
9075 | 16 | 10–13, 13–18, 18–28, 28–48 | 27 | 50.3 | 3,400 |
Measure the full deck thickness at the hole, including any backing pad you add underneath. Harken publishes no working load for the 6 and 8 mm doubles, so use those sizes to guide and protect lines rather than to anchor a block.
Harken Gizmo padeye kits: a soft padeye through the deck
Each padeye kit contains a cross pin and a waterproof cap with an adhesive ring. Fitted to a double bushing, it creates a through-deck, watertight padeye. A soft loop or lashing passes down through the bushing, round the cross pin underneath, and back up to a block on deck. Harken states that the padeye can be loaded in any direction relative to the cross pin.
The result is a low-profile attachment point with no metal padeye on deck to catch sheets or toes, and because the block hangs on a soft loop it lines itself up with the load. If soft attachments are new to you, our posts on soft padeyes and soft-attach blocks explain the principle. For a conventional fitting, see our range of padeyes and deck padeye hardware.
Kits are made for the 10, 12, 14 and 16 mm doubles, and each kit carries the same SWL as its bushing. Blocks and loops are not included.
Compatible Harken blocks
Padeye kit | Harken part no. | SWL (kg) | Compatible Harken blocks |
|---|---|---|---|
10 mm | 9072.PADEYE | 700 | Fly block 2173 |
12 mm | 9073.PADEYE | 1,500 | Black Magic Loop Block 3214; V Block 3294AL, 3366AL |
14 mm | 9074.PADEYE | 2,300 | Black Magic Loop Block 3230; High-Load Snatch Block 3299 |
16 mm | 9075.PADEYE | 3,400 | Black Magic Loop Block 3245; V Block 3295AL, 3367AL |
The loop or lashing matters as much as the hardware. Either a single loop or a basket (doubled) configuration round the pin is acceptable, provided the loop can handle the load. Follow the block's own instructions to attach it.
Fitting Harken Gizmos
Before you drill
- Drill the hole size given in the tables above for your bushing.
- On a cored deck, Harken says to reinforce and seal the core with a suitable compression tube. A common method is to drill oversize, remove the core around the hole, fill it with epoxy and re-drill.
- Check below deck for wiring, headlining and room for the lower half of a double and its padeye cap.
Installation steps
- Single bushing: run a large bead of marine-grade polysulphide sealant into the corner under the flange, push the bushing into place and clean off excess sealant. For a permanent fit, also coat the shaft with adhesive.
- Double bushing: put polysulphide sealant under the upper flange, apply a little Tef-Gel or grease to the thread, and screw the halves together until snug, using the wrench flats. Do not overtighten.
- Padeye kit: capture the loop round the cross pin with the pin's flats facing up against the bottom flange. Remove the backing from the adhesive ring, make sure the bushing's underside is clean and dry, and press the cap on. Fill the padeye with silicone or a similar sealant to keep water out.
Maintenance
Every so often, lever the cap off with a screwdriver in one of its cutouts and inspect the cross pin and loop for wear. Replace the loop if it shows chafe. Harken warns that some teak cleaners and other caustic products can discolour the parts, and that this is not covered by its warranty.
Harken Gizmos FAQ
Single or double: which do I need?
A single suits light loads and lines that run fairly straight through the deck. Choose a double for higher loads, sharper angles, loads from both sides, or any soft-attach point.
Does the padeye kit include a block or loop?
No. The kit is the cross pin and cap only; choose a compatible block from the table and a loop rated for the load.
Can I fit a padeye kit to a 6 or 8 mm bushing?
No. Padeye kits are made for the 10, 12, 14 and 16 mm doubles.
Can I shorten a Gizmo?
Harken's instructions cover trimming single bushings only. Doubles are chosen to match the deck thickness instead.
If you are unsure which size or deck band you need, contact our technical team with your deck thickness, line size and what the line does, and we will help you choose.
Browse the full Harken Gizmos deck bushings range, or see all Harken through-deck bushings by clicking below:
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Harken Gizmos: Through-Deck Bushings and Padeye Kits