Abstract: An improved winch-type device for establishing and maintaining tension in a tie rope, cord, or cable is disclosed. The novel device is self-locking and does not require a ratchet or other locking mechanisms as used in convention winch devices. The device comprises a reel consisting of two end discs which are joined together at their centers by a spindle, i.e., an elongate shaft. The end discs of the reel are supported by a pair of bearing members in which the bearing faces thereof substantially enclose and make sliding contact with the perimeters of the respective discs. The bearing members are interconnected by a connecting member extending from one of the bearing members to the other so as to hold the bearing members in fixed position about the respective discs. A crank member is associated with one of the end discs for rotating the reel within the bearing members.