The present invention is a reversible, portable winch for attachment to a load-bearing structure. It includes a shaft for rotation; a take-up reel for winding and unwinding a flexible securing strap, the take-up reel being connected to the shaft and affixed thereto for rotation therewith; a flexible securing strap attached to the take-up reel at a first end thereof; a plurality of bidirectional pawl-engaging teeth located about the shaft and so as to prevent and permit rotation of the take-up reel and the shaft by being engaged and disengaged with a pawl; a winding mechanism connected to the shaft or the take-up reel for winding the shaft and the take-up reel; support for supporting the shaft and the pawl. The winch is connected via its shaft to a support and the pawl may be movably connected to the support as well. The present invention is also a portable winch component set for installation into a support at some later time.