Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a winch having a user-adjustable or variable initial mechanical advantage. In one embodiment, the winch of the present disclosure has an outer drum diameter adjustable between a minimum outer drum diameter, which is associated with a maximum initial mechanical advantage provided by the winch, and a maximum outer drum diameter, which is associated with a minimum initial mechanical advantage provided by the winch. This provides a user with the flexibility to adjust or vary the mechanical advantage of the winch to the user's preference.