Gettin' Old Is Hell Dept.:

My boat is a Skeeter SX190 with a 150 Yamaha. Steering is anti-feedback, which I know is a safety feature to keep the boat on course when hands are removed from the wheel.

Problem is that I've got some elbow and shoulder pain, prob'ly from arthritis and wear, and I can still fish but the anti-feedback steering is getting harder to deal with.

South Austin Marine Svc. Dept. says there's really no way to loosen it up short of installing hydraulic steering, to the tune of about 1500 bucks.

Any recommendations here before I drop 1.5 large on the boat?

My Triton had anti-feedback steering and was always a pain to turn. Every now and then I would squirt anti-seize and lubricant in the tubes at the motor (dual cable) and it helped for a while.

Finally last fall at Amistad my son & I were pulling into Diablo East and suddenly the wheel turned VERY easy. Only problem was the motor wasn't turning. Luckily we had come off plane and was able to make it in and load with the trolling motor.

Best I could tell, the cable(s) over time had become dirty/corroded and the stress to move them caused the gear on the steering shaft for the rack & pinon to give way.

Got new dual cable NFB steering unit (not hydraulic) for about $350 online and could not believe how easy the boat is now to steer. Installed it myself with not much trouble.

I was lucky, my steering gave out at idle not at full plane and/or 12 miles up the Rio Grande on Amistad on a windy day.

If your boat is 8-10 years old, It more than likely is bad cables. I would have them replace the cables or if you like bring it to San Marcos and I'll replace them for you....