Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for assisting in the attachment of an appliance such as a winch to a surface (e.g. deck) of a watercraft such as a sailing boat. Fixing screws are retained in apertures in the winch by retaining means such as lock washers. The assembly of the winch and screws may therefore be produced at a location remote from the watercraft, the retaining means holding the screws against rotation during transportation and during fixing of the appliance to the surface of the watercraft.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for assisting in the attachment of an applicant such as a winch to a surface (e.g. deck) of a watercraft such as a sailing boat.

Abstract: A windlass assembly includes a single-turn gypsy for engaging the line and/or chain of an anchor rode of a water craft. This has to be driven from a drive shaft, but also has to have the capacity to rotate relative to the shaft under the influence of the anchor as it is paid out. A lever is movable between positions where it engages drive to and disengages drive from the gypsy. It is biased (e.g. by a spring) towards the engaged position, but in its other position can be pressed onto the gypsy to control the friction to which the latter is subject while rotating relative to the shaft.

Abstract: A gypsy-type winch has a sheave for driving a rope, chain or rope-chain pulling element. The pulling element is urged into contact with the sheave by a spring assembly acting on the element at positions spaced apart from each other and in different sides respectively of a first diameter extending between the inlet and outlet runs of the element, but both on one side of a second diameter perpendicular to the first.