Capstan winch

Onboard US Navy ships (probably others as well) we had two types of capstan winches. The "mooring" capstan and the "warping" capstan. What they were each used for I couldn't even begin to tell you as they were used exclusively by the Deck Department crew. I was in the Engineering or Repair Departments during my time in the US Navy as a Machinist Mate First Class. I have known guys that made homemade versions of a horizontally mounted capstan winch that was on a frame that would mount in the stake pockets of their pickup trucks. They used them to winch deer and elk carcasses up out of steep ravines as a whole carcass. Typically powered by whatever kind of small gas engine they had laying around at the time of the build.

Capstan winch - video