Abstract: A hand-held, powered, portable winch is provided with a unique planetary gear reduction unit that couples the motor to a winch drum. Controls are provided in a carrying handle for energizing a clutch to actuate rotation of the drum while simultaneously controlling the speed of the motor. The gear reduction unit is uniquely stabilized against racking loads on the gears and against radial loads imposed by the clutch. The winch is uniquely used in a method for hoisting by attaching the winch to the load with the hoisting line attached remotely to a fixed object. In this manner the load and the winch are drawn to the fixed object.