A chain and cable handling winch system including a winch, a cable drum, a chain wheel, and a chain wheel lock assembly is provided. The chain wheel lock assembly releasable secures the chain wheel in a working position on a winch axle end. An interface body is mounted on the winch axle end such that it rotates with the axle. When the chain wheel is in its working position, slots and/or ribs of the chain wheel interlock with corresponding ribs and/or slots of the interface body, such that a torque load is transferred from the chain wheel to the winch axle via the interface body. The winch system further includes a chain wheel manipulator adapted to the exchange chain wheel mounted on the winch axle for another chain wheel.

A boat winch assembly including a mounting bracket for securing the assembly to a boat, a winch subassembly supported by the mounting bracket and including a spool for an anchor line, and a drive motor for rotating the spool, a spar having an outer end with one or more rollers, an anchor line retaining member, and a fairlead that is defined between one of the rollers and the anchor line retaining member, wherein in use, the anchor line passes through the fairlead, and a hinge connection, such that the spar projects outwardly from the hinge connection, where the hinge connection enables the spar to rotate between a deployed position and a stowed position and when the boat winch assembly is secured to a boat, inclination of the spar increases with rotation of the spar about the pivot axis from the deployed position towards the stowed position.

A boat winch assembly including a mounting bracket for securing the assembly to a boat, a winch subassembly supported by the mounting bracket and including a spool for an anchor line, and a drive motor for rotating the spool, a spar having an outer end with one or more rollers, an anchor line retaining member, and a fairlead that is defined between one of the rollers and the anchor line retaining member, wherein in use, the anchor line passes through the fairlead, and a hinge connection, such that the spar projects outwardly from the hinge connection, where the hinge connection enables the spar to rotate between a deployed position and a stowed position and when the boat winch assembly is secured to a boat, inclination of the spar increases with rotation of the spar about the pivot axis from the deployed position towards the stowed position.