The sailing world has seen a lot of winch handles and continual efforts to improve on the basic design. First, they were made lighter (and less lightly to cause a concussion if pulled out of a winch too quickly). Then a second handhold was added. Then a knob took the place of a vertical hand grip and things really got better. And just when you thought a winch handle couldn't get any better, Harken stepped up the winch handle game.

The Carbo OneTouch winch handle features Harken's SpeedGrip knob, which spins effortlessly and independently from the hand grip for two-handed grinding when necessary or easy low-load grinding. What makes the OneTouch different, though is hand bar that released the handle from the winch with a quick grab and a satisfying click. Harken isn't the first to come up with the grip release concept, but has the most definitive "feel" we've tried, so there is no doubt about the handle being locked in or released.

We tested the Carbo OneTouch, which weighs in at 20.4 ounces, all summer with nary a wiggle in a winch as happens quickly with some handles. And more than one crewmember tried to abscond with the OneTouch handle for their area of the boat.

The Harken Carbo OneTouch winch handle sells for $112.50 or can be personalized for $153.