Abstract: A boat lift system for raising and lowering a boat from and into a body of water includes a cradle, a cable and a drive system. The cradle is configured to hold the boat. The cable is connected to the cradle. The drive system includes a reel, a drive mechanism and a cable slack control mechanism. The reel is configured to receive the cable. The reel is rotatable in each of a winding direction to wind the cable onto the reel to raise the cradle and an unwinding direction to unwind the cable from the reel to lower the cradle. The drive mechanism includes a drive member and a motor operable to forcibly rotate the drive member in each of a raising direction and a lowering direction. The drive member is operatively connected to the reel to rotate the reel in the winding direction when the drive member is rotated in the raising direction, and to controllably rotate the reel and/or permit the reel to rotate in the unwinding direction when the drive member is rotated in the lowering direction.

Abstract: 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.