Abstract: A selftailing capstan winch having a stationary shaft element which holds bearings for a winch drum and houses a driving shaft adapted to be crank handle driven from above. The shaft element has a fixed radial arm projecting outwardly about a drum top flange and into an upper annular rope groove. The driving shaft is mounted eccentrically in the stationary shaft element. The driving engagement with the drum is established by a pinion on the rotary shaft which simply engages an interior, relative broader toothed rim on the drum. With this arrangement, the drum is not rotated as quickly as the crank handle; however, the driving arrangement is simple and robust.