A boat lift of the type that is mounted on the pilings of a boat slip or dock having four pilings placed in a rectangular arrangement is provided. The boat lift includes a cradle upon which the hull of a boat is adapted to rest. A structure for raising and lowering the cradle is provided and a cable connects the cradle to the structure for raising and lowering the cradle. A drive unit is operatively associated with the structure for raising and lowering the cradle and includes a motor having an output shaft adapted to drive the drive unit such that upon operation of the motor, the cradle is raised or lowered.