A lift crane comprising: a) a carbody; b) ground engaging members elevating the carbody off the ground; c) a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody; d) a boom pivotally mounted at a first end to the rotating bed with a load hoist line extending adjacent a second end of the boom; e) a boom hoist mechanism that can be used to change the angle of the boom relative to the rotating bed during crane operation; characterised in that it further comprises f) a boom raising assist structure connected to the boom between the first end of the boom and the center of gravity of the boom comprising: i) at least one ground engaging member in contact with the ground; and ii) a boom elevating member extending between the assist structure ground engaging member and the boom, the boom elevating member supporting at least a part of the weight of the boom and being positioned so that it supports the boom when the boom is at a horizontal position relative to the ground and is configured to help raise the boom while the boom is raised to an angle of at least 5°; iii) wherein the weight and length of the boom are sufficient to generate a moment that would tip the crane if the crane boom hoist mechanism were to attempt to lift the boom off the ground without using the boom raising assist structure. a) a carbody; b) ground engaging members elevating the carbody off the ground; c) a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody; d) a boom pivotally mounted at a first end to the rotating bed with a load hoist line extending adjacent a second end of the boom; e) a boom hoist mechanism that can be used to change the angle of the boom relative to the rotating bed during crane operation; characterised in that it further comprises f) a boom raising assist structure connected to the boom between the first end of the boom and the center of gravity of the boom comprising: i) at least one ground engaging member in contact with the ground; and ii) a boom elevating member extending between the assist structure ground engaging member and the boom, the boom elevating member supporting at least a part of the weight of the boom and being positioned so that it supports the boom when the boom is at a horizontal position relative to the ground and is configured to help raise the boom while the boom is raised to an angle of at least 5°; iii) wherein the weight and length of the boom are sufficient to generate a moment that would tip the crane if the crane boom hoist mechanism were to attempt to lift the boom off the ground without using the boom raising assist structure. i) at least one ground engaging member in contact with the ground; and ii) a boom elevating member extending between the assist structure ground engaging member and the boom, the boom elevating member supporting at least a part of the weight of the boom and being positioned so that it supports the boom when the boom is at a horizontal position relative to the ground and is configured to help raise the boom while the boom is raised to an angle of at least 5°; iii) wherein the weight and length of the boom are sufficient to generate a moment that would tip the crane if the crane boom hoist mechanism were to attempt to lift the boom off the ground without using the boom raising assist structure.