Hydraulic boat hoist

A hydraulically operated boat hoist comprising:

• a rectangular lifting frame having four corners;
• a horizontally disposed platform attached to said frame, said platform being movable in a vertical direction between a lowered position and a raised position;
• first means for exerting an upwardly directed force at a first point on said movable platform;
• second means separate from said first means for transmitting said upwardly directed force to a second point on said movable platform remote from said first point, wherein said upwardly directed force is evenly distributed between said first point and said second remote point, to raise the platform in a level manner;
• said first means including hydraulic means operable in a first position to raise said platform, operable in a second position to lower said platform, and operable in a third position to maintain said platform in a raised position;
• wherein said hydraulic means includes a piston and cylinder unit, with said piston connected at an exposed end to a pair of flexible cables having free ends each of which is connected to a said first point;
• and
• wherein said hydraulic means including further a switch unit mounted on said cylinder, said switch unit operable upon engagement with said piston to place said hydraulic means in said third position.