These past few trips to the lake, I've noticed my hydraulic steering is feeling more and more loose. Seems like I can turn the steering wheel for too long/far before it "catches" and begins to actually turn. Seems to be getting worse. I have checked the cylinder area and there was fluid leaking -slow leak- at the bottom; the cylinder itself appears to be fine, did not see any scores, scratches or rough areas.

Thinking of replacing the seals and fluid myself. I watched a couple YouTube videos and it seems doable, provided I get the proper wrench for loosening the steering cylinder endcaps.

Any advice, thoughts, suggestions before I attempt this repair.

Yep if it's leaking then it's getting air in it. Replacing the seals is easy you just need an extra person to help bleed it. You can get a kit with everything you need, like this one.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SeaStar-Cylinder...=item2a3ff2fbe1

I also need to get this done as well. Would you know anywhere that might have these parts in the DFW area?

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/teleflex--outboard-cylinder-hydraulic-seal-kit--179809

I have seal kits for them and I'm in McKinney

Hughes Marine Service
214 842 3009

Completed the job yesterday. It was amazingly easy. I replaced the end caps/seals and then bled the system. Not a difficult job at all. My only complaint is the price of the special spanner wrench; it's ridiculous to have to pay that much for a simple tool. If anyone wants to do the job, let me know and I will charge a small fee for use of the wrench to recoup the cost.

Did mine last month super easy, the shop wanted 300 for the job after buying kit and fluid and some things to make it easy had about 220 invested. Not a huge savings but didn't have to leave the boat for a week.

how muhc is hydrolic strearying i thought it was way ou of my price range i how hoping someone could tell me houw to to a 21 ft pro mastr my boat turn like a tank it would make it easyier on my back after 3 hr of fishing on fough day it take all i have e to drive the boat if it it let me be out on the wanted longer i am all for it jut dont have 1500 to thtough at it

Chem, if you were going to replace the entire hydraulic system, it would be very expensive (around $1200-$1500, my guess). Outside of a severely damaged/scarred rod, I would think you could not have to replace the entire system. All I did was replace the endcaps/seals and then bleed the system to get rid of the bubbles.

If you're looking to install a system, you may want to check online for a used system. Might find one cheaper, perhaps even one that you can just rebuild, bleed, and get back to new. Not sure how much cheaper they'll go, though.