Stylecraft trim ram

**Mark75H** · 09-06-2010

Rich Luhrs doubts these were trim rams, rather thinking they were tunnel tab rams ... the mounting angle and wear pattern on the end plate suggest to me this was a trim ram ... as I have been told by former racers like Pete DeLackner

Not a "handcrafted gizmo by an inventive racer" by a long shot ... this is a thought out and designed for production piece.

I wish I had another one for my current project

**Jimboat** · 09-06-2010

what year of manufacture do you think that trim piece is, Sam?

**Mark75H** · 09-06-2010

Hydraulic trim ... I have the manual pump cylinder that goes with it.

This mounted thru the transom and the front of the motor rubbed against it ... pump the jack and tilt the motor up. Release the jack pressure and let it back down.

I need a second ram.

**fredbear624** · 09-07-2010

YES A TRIM RAM THAT EARL WAS PUTTING ON THE STYLECRAFT CATS. HAVING INSTALLED THEM WHEN I WORKED FOR EARL AS A KID. THE RAM WAS A SUPLUS MILT UNIT AND THE CASTING WAS MADE FOR EARL. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASON THEY THE CATS WERE SO GOOD AND FAST.

WHAT BOAT IS THAT IN THE BACK ROUND FROM THE LOOKS OF THE MOTOR WELL IS THAT ONE OF THE STOCK DECK 17'8" CATS

?

THE TRICK TO THE TILT WAS 8-10 PUMPS TO GET ON PLAN, THEM DUMP THE THE JACK. START OVER 5-6 PUMPS TO GET GOING GOOD DUMP THE JACK , 3-4 PUMPS TO FLY, 1-2 TO TRIM FOR MAX SPEED ANY MORE AND OVER YOU GO

.
WORKED JUST LIKE TRIM OF TODAY BUT SLOWER ON THE WAY UP. THE MOTOR WAS TIED DOWN WITH BUNGY CORD OR NIOLYN CORD. DOWN WAS A FOOT LEVER TO RELEASE. A SMALL TAP FOR A LITTLE DOWN OR A LONG PUSH FOR ALL THE WAS DOWN. I THING THAT I HAVE SOME INFO ON THEM SOME PLACE IN MY STORED STUF I WILL LOOK TO SEE IF I CAN FIND IT. FREDBEAR624

**Bill Gohr** · 09-07-2010

Tiger brought me a box of old race rigging to sort through and I think the pump for that is in there

**Mark75H** · 09-07-2010

I have the pump

What I need is another cylinder. I gotta believe a lot of these went to the dump on the backs of lots of old Stylecrafts and Powercats

Sorry I missed the year question ... I was pretty tired.

Probably 1961-64 ... near the end of the Stylecraft era ... unless Dennis can place it otherwise

**Jimboat** · 09-07-2010

Originally Posted by Mark75H

This mounted thru the transom and the front of the motor rubbed against it ... pump the jack and tilt the motor up. Release the jack pressure and let it back down.

Sam - this must be one of the very first hydraulic trim systems! who do you credit with inventing it?

**Mark75H** · 09-07-2010

I suspect a number of "inventive" racers were using them a few years earlier and I'm afraid there isn't enough info or memory of exactly who.

Both Jack Oxley and Pete DeLackner told me about using these hand pumped devices on WOA race boats in the early '60's.

Earl Palmer should probably get credit for making the first pieces specifically intended for this application, even if he was not the actual inventor.

Earl was already selling these before some other people claimed to have invented it for their own personal use.