A boat lifting assembly includes a cradle for carrying a boat mounted between three pilings on each cradle side. A pair of support housings is affixed to the pilings on each cradle side. A pair of hydraulic lifts are housed in the housings and connected to the cradle for moving same vertically. Each lift includes a horizontally extensible piston carrying a piston pulley block and a stationary hydraulic cylinder. Three cables have one end portion threaded between the pulleys of the block and the cradle. Transition pulleys are supported by the housing and direct the cable vertically for moving the cradle when the block is moved. Additional pulleys and various anchor points may be employed to provide for vertical lifts of 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 times the distance of movement of the piston. The housings are in the same plane as the cradle deck and/or dock.