Portable winch power drive

A power handle for operating a marine winch, said winch having a capstan mounted for rotation about a central axis and said capstan including a socket for receiving a star stub to removably secure a winch handle to the capstan, said power handle comprising:

• a housing including a flat plate having a top surface and an opposed bottom surface and having a bore through the plate from the top surface to the bottom surface;
• drive means operatively associated with the housing for rotating the capstan relative to the housing, said drive means being secured to the top surface of the plate and comprising:
• star stub output means for removably securing the handle to the capstan, said output means extending from the drive means through the bore and projecting beyond the bottom surface of the plate;
• planetary gear means for rotating said output means, and
• electric motor means secured to the housing, for driving the planetary gear means;
• means for electrically connecting the motor means to a source of electrical current;
• switch means for interrupting the electrical connection;
• manually overrideable resilient means for urging the switch means to interrupt the electrical connection;
• and
• handle means for manually securing the housing to prevent rotation of the housing relative to the central axis, said handle means comprising an elongated member secured to the housing and extending along a second axis, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the central axis.