Abstract: A manual marine winch comprising a winch housing, rotating drum assembly supported on the housing, and a manually actuated control for spooling and un-spooling a winch line on the drum, wherein the control includes a self-releasing handle for selectively tensioning the drum. handle includes i) a ratchet gear coupled to the drum ii) a rotating handle body with a manual end grip, iii) a user engaged trigger mechanism moveable between an engaged and release position, and iv) a handle locking pawl on the body coupled to the trigger mechanism and moveable between a position engaged with the gear rotationally securing the body to the gear and drum when the trigger is in the engaged position and a position disengaged with the gear rotationally separating the body from the gear and drum when the trigger is not in the engaged position.