Abstract: Apparatus and method for lifting blowout preventers beneath the floor of a drilling rig are provided. More than one cable is used on the drums of winches, allowing the winches to be compact enough for use on a drilling rig floor while avoiding the requirement for larger cable that would be required to achieve the high safety factors needed. The cables or wire ropes on the winches are attached to a member from which a larger diameter, higher strength intermediate cable is also attached. The intermediate cable is then attached to known apparatus such as a cradle for lifting a blowout preventer stack.