The invention claimed is:
1. A windlass comprising in combination:
a frame; a reversible motor mounted on the frame, said motor having a drive shaft with a gear thereon; a rotatable spool with a cable wrappable thereon and unwrappable therefrom mounted on said frame, said cable having a free end with a weighted objected thereon; a spool gear operably connected to said spool for unitary rotation therewith; a gear train mounted on said frame establishing selectable operative engagement between said motor and said spool gear such that said spool gear can be rotated in a first direction with said motor and rotated in a second direction independently of said motor and gear train; and a governor for inhibiting rotation of said spool gear when it is independent of said motor and gear train, said governor including a governor gear mounted on said frame independently of said motor and gear train, said governor gear being meshed with said spool gear to rotate in unison therewith, and said governor gear including means for inhibiting its rate of rotation in the form of a spring for fractionally engaging said governor gear with a friction surface.
2. The windlass of claim 1 wherein said spring is inter-changeable.
3. The windlass of claim 2 wherein said governor gear is in continuous meshing engagement with said spool gear.