Yankum Ropes
Groove Fairlead [Hawse]
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A standard hawse fairlead does one job: give your synthetic line a smooth surface to run over. It does nothing the moment you rig sideways. Your line drags across the bumper face, over a rock, around a tree, and the abrasion goes straight into the fibers you are trusting with 10,000 lbs.
The Groove Fairlead puts a channel around the line instead of just under it. The line sits in the groove and stays there whether you are pulling straight ahead or off at an angle. No hook, no shackle, no extra part to add — the shape of the casting does the work.
Which one fits your winch
Five configurations. The full-size three all share a 10" bolt spacing, which is the standard pattern on virtually every truck and SUV winch. The difference between them is the width of the center opening.
| Variant | Length | Hole-to-hole | Use it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 13" | 10" | Standard-width winch drum. 7.5" center opening. This is the one most people need. |
| Comp | 13" | 10" | Narrow competition drum. 4.5" center opening. |
| Off-Set | 12-3/4" | 10" | ARB bumpers. Same 7.5" opening, shifted to clear the bumper structure. |
| SXS | 7-3/4" | 6" | Side-by-sides. 7" bolt pattern center to center, 2" tall, 3/4" deep. |
| ATV | 6-5/8" | 5-3/4" | Quads and small utility machines. 4-7/8" bolt pattern, 2" tall, 3/4" deep. |
The SXS and ATV castings have clearance cut into the sides so the line can wrap around — the small machines need it, the full-size ones do not.
Two things to know before you order
Hardware is not included. Yankum sells a stainless kit separately and we do not currently stock it. Most people reuse the bolts from their existing fairlead, which is usually fine — check the length against the thicker casting first. If you are unsure, email us and we will work out what you need.
You will need to re-tie your line. The groove is narrower than a standard hawse opening, so a thimble or a bulky splice will not pass through. Re-tying a Brummell splice takes a few minutes and you do not have to pull the whole line off the drum. If your line is old enough that you would rather replace it than re-splice it, that is a reasonable call — this is a good moment to do it.
Rigging with it
Run a soft shackle at the eye. Soft shackles give the line a larger bend radius than a thimble and they will not collapse or become a projectile under extreme load. Order of preference: soft shackle first, hard shackle second, thimble last.
FAQ
Will this fit my winch?
If it is a full-size winch, almost certainly — 10" hole-to-hole is the near-universal standard. Measure your existing fairlead center to center to confirm. Running an ARB bumper, choose Off-Set.
Can I use this with steel cable?
No. This is designed for synthetic line. Steel cable will chew through the groove and you lose the benefit anyway — steel does not need abrasion protection the way synthetic does.
Does the groove actually make a difference?
It matters most on angled pulls, which is when line damage usually happens. On a dead-straight pull to a solid anchor, a standard hawse is fine. If every recovery you do is straightforward, you may not need this.
Not sure which one you need? Get in touch — we would rather sort out fitment now than process a return later.
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