Abstract: A power winch mechanism having a rotatable cable drum in which is rotatably mounted a D.C. electric drive motor. One end of the cable drum, and one end of the electric drive motor is operatively supported by a fixed support member on a base plate. The other ends of the cable drum and the electric drive motor are rotatably supported by a fixed gear housing, axially spaced apart from the first mentioned fixed support member. The electric drive motor is provided with an elongated output shaft that extends into the fixed gear housing, and it carries a fixedly mounted sun gear that is in mesh with, and drives a pair of planetary gears. The planetary gears are in mesh simultaneously with a fixed ring gear mounted in the fixed gear housing and a rotatable ring gear that is fixed on the cable drum. The rotatable ring gear on the cable drum is provided with two more teeth than the fixed ring gear on the fixed gear housing.