“These are winches! Winches are mechanical devices used to pull in or let out rope or cables. The cable wraps around the barrel-shaped portion while the winch holds it in place. These winches, which came from a boathouse at Cold Spring Camp in Milton, VT, are sometimes used by students to learn about simple maritime machines. Winches can be operated by hand or attached to an electric or gas motor.”-Lake Champlain Maritime Museum