Dual rams

[old377guy]

Just some idle musing. I had a buddy ask me this the other day and I didn't have any answer. "Why don't many or any modern boats (race or pleasure) have the big dual ram (and shock reservoir rams) like back in the day"? My question is "Have rams gotten stronger or more forgiving of shock loads"? What's up with this?

 

[Bobcat]

$$$$

 

[Bobcat]

Not a good reason

 

[old377guy]

Yeah, why no race boats with the big HD setups?

 

[Ratickle]

Are you talking about rams on the drives or the tabs?

 

[old377guy]

The tabs, Paul.

 

[Bobcat]

I was thinking drives also....Don't get me started on $100K boats with sh*tty tabs....blows my mind.

 

[KAAMA]

Yeah, how 'bout some of dem "Bennett" trim tabs??? :leaving:

 

[Top Banana]

The dual rams that were first used by Kiekhaefer used only the finest oil Mr Kiekhaefer could find. Yes, real whale oil was used by the Kiekhefer teams in both the tabs and the trim pumps for the drives.

Over time it was discovered that you didn't really need such a big tab to get the boat to perform during races. The tabs were mounted in such a way that smaller tabs could give the team the desired effect on the hull that was needed.

The next change was the length of the tab. They could keep a single ram and extend the length of the tab and get what they needed.

 

[old377guy]

Thanks Charlie

 

[Ratickle]

Was the oil the big change for strength of the single ram, or just the smaller tab? I can't recall of a single ram failure on a tab except for when the entire assembly was also destroyed.