Abstract: A power driven traction winch for drawing up rope having two spaced, parallel, power-driven drums journaled on a bearing support structure; a pulley mounted coaxially on one of the drums and free to turn with respect thereto for receiving a final turn of the rope; a pressure roller mounted on the support structure, positioned with its axis parallel to the axis of the pulley and pivoted for movement towards and away from the pulley in alignment therewith; means for urging the roller towards the pulley to press a turn of rope against the pulley; means for applying torque to the pulley in the wind-up direction, the torque being independent of rotation of and torque applied to the one drum, whereby rope is drawn into the winch under tension and released from said winch free of tension; v-shaped circumferential grooves on the drums and on the pulley for receiving turns of rope; a support structure affixed to a boat, holding the axis of the drums vertical, and wholly between said drums to provide access to said win