Factor 55 FlatLink XXL EPDM Rubber Guard | Set of 4 | Hawse & Roller Fairlead Protection

Is This for You?

• You're running a Factor 55 UltraHook or FlatLink XXL and want to protect your Hawse or roller fairlead from the metal-on-metal contact scratching that occurs without a gasket between the hook/link body and the fairlead face.
• You've had polyurethane guards crack, shrink, or fall out — Factor 55 uses EPDM synthetic rubber instead of polyurethane specifically because polyurethane cracks under UV, ozone, and oxygen exposure. EPDM does not.
• You want a replacement set that installs and stays installed — the Rubber Guard feature was designed into the UltraHook and FlatLink from the beginning. Once installed, it will not come loose.

The Result

• High durometer EPDM rubber gasket separates the UltraHook/FlatLink body from the fairlead face — eliminates direct metal-to-metal contact and the scratching it causes on both Hawse and roller fairleads.
• EPDM material resists aging, cracking, UV, ozone, and oxygen exposure — the failure modes that cause polyurethane guards to crack and fall out do not affect EPDM.
• Set of 4 — complete replacement set for the UltraHook or FlatLink XXL Rubber Guard positions.

The choice of EPDM over polyurethane is a material engineering decision, not a cost decision — EPDM is more expensive to manufacture than polyurethane. Factor 55 uses it because polyurethane's failure modes are well-documented: UV exposure causes surface cracking, ozone and oxygen exposure accelerate embrittlement, and thermal cycling causes dimensional changes that loosen the fit over time. EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is a synthetic rubber with fundamentally different polymer chemistry — it has superior resistance to UV, ozone, and oxygen degradation, remains flexible across a wide temperature range, and does not crack or shrink under the outdoor exposure conditions that destroy polyurethane guards. High durometer EPDM provides the stiffness required to maintain a consistent gasket thickness between the hook/link body and the fairlead face under load, while remaining flexible enough to conform to the contact surfaces without tearing. The Rubber Guard was designed into the UltraHook and FlatLink geometry from the beginning — the mounting features that retain the guard are part of the product design, not an afterthought, which is why the guard does not come loose once installed. Protects both Hawse (alloy) and roller fairleads from scratching.

Audit Table

Why EPDM, Not Polyurethane

Verified Compatibility

✔ Factor 55 UltraHook — XXL Size
✔ Factor 55 FlatLink — XXL Size
✔ Hawse (alloy) fairleads
✔ Roller fairleads

✘ Does NOT fit: Factor 55 standard-size UltraHook or FlatLink — XXL-specific dimensions
✘ Does NOT fit: Third-party hook or link products — retention geometry is Factor 55-specific

Installation Notes

• Designed-in retention feature — install per Factor 55 specification. Guard will not come loose once correctly seated.
• Inspect guards at regular intervals for cuts, tears, or compression set that reduces gasket thickness. Replace the full set of 4 if any guard shows damage.
• Compatible with both Hawse and roller fairlead configurations — no modification required for either fairlead type.

Engineering Question: Are you running the XXL-size UltraHook or FlatLink, and are you replacing worn or damaged guards or installing on a new product? Confirm XXL size — standard-size Factor 55 products use a different Rubber Guard SKU.