Abstract: A winch wherein braking is achieved by cam actuation, the cam actuation, in a static condition, frictionally interlocking the drive shaft to the cable drum. A gear reduction mechanism is provided between the shaft and drum and is prevented by such interlocking from producing differential rotation of the drum and thus affects lockup or braking of the drum. The locking mechanism is optimally provided by a stator that is fixed to the drum, the stator providing brake surfaces for the drum having disc brake-like braking action. The stator conducts heat from the end surface thereof to the drum and thus to the atmosphere.