Disclosed is an assembly for assisting in the attachment of an appliance such as a winch to a surface (e.g. deck) of a watercraft such as a sailing boat. Fixing screws are retained in apertures in the winch by retaining means such as lock washers. The assembly of the winch and screws may therefore be produced at a location remote from the watercraft, the retaining means holding the screws against rotation during transportation and during fixing of the appliance to the surface of the watercraft.