17 may be beveled or otherwise shaped in a known manner to facilitate proper tooth engagement with the rope pulley gear 16 the spur gear 18 is supported on a pin 44 by conventional one way roller clutch members 46 the pin 44 extends through a hole in the wall 26 and is fixed to the wall by a nut 47 which draws an integral shoulder 48 against the wall the pin 44 has its longitudinal axis parallel to that of the rope pulley shaft 22 and motor shaft 31 the one way roller clutches 46 support the associated spur gear 18 for rotation in only one rotary direction about the axis of the pin 44 a compression spring 51 assembled on the outboard or free end of the pin 44 is compressed between a pair of thrust washers 52 at each of its ends and is retained on the pin by a split ring 53 received in an annular groove on the pin the spring 51 operates as a friction brake through the thrust washer 52 on the assembly of the spur gear 18 and one way clutches 46 to retard this assembly slightly in rotation in the operative direction of the clutches the threads 35 on the motor shaft 31 are for exemplary purposes left hand the motor 12 is most conveniently a reversible electric unit operating for example on 12 volts dc appropriate electrical cables and a control switch remote from the windlass 10 connect the motor 12 to a source of electrical energy such as a dc battery the control switch and electrical circuitry are effective to apply the proper polarity and current to the.