• Check the basics, such as levels of steering fluid, before purchasing any toolsboat steering wheel image by EW CHEE GUAN from Fotolia.com
  
  If your boat has become difficult to steer, you may need to invest in a pressurized lubrication system, or at least a few tools to help you get started. The reason for progressively troublesome steering in boats is usually caused by rust at the end of the steering cable. A small hole at the end of the cable allows water in -- the problem can intensify if you travel around in saltwater.
  
  

DIY ATF System

• Purchase a carton of Valvoline's Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) Dextron II with a screw-on nozzle. You will also need a piece of clear plastic tubing that matches the original diameter of your steering cable (measure your boat's cable with a tape measure) and two hose clamps. Using an adapter and air fitting at one end, pressurize the system to around 10 psi, attach the other end to your steering cable, and squirt the Valvoline into the tubing. The red transmission fluid is clearly visible and it needs to coat the end of the steering cable. Unwanted grease and dirt will be forced out of the cable. Repeat two or three times over an hour.
  
  

Telescopic Lubrication Adapter

• Used for marine applications, this is an improvement over existing adapters in that it has a control cable that creates a telescopic motion as it lubricates the boat's steering. The adapter features a "tapered, frusto-conical surface contour configuration" along the length of the inner chamber with a varying diameter, which improves the flow of lubricant from the sealed end to the clearance end of the chamber. The surface contour configuration is tapered at 20 degrees
  
  

Cut-off Tool, Hose Oil & a Bench Vise

• Ensure your system is corrosion-free by checking and replacing any fittings using a sharp cut-off tool to sever the hose and tube of marine lubrication hose oil. Hold the hose in place using a bench vise. Replace your marine steering hose and hex joints (similar to nuts and bolts). Fitting connections are measured in sixteenths of an inch, as standard. Hose can be bought in bulk, such as 250 feet, and can be broken down into sections, called pieces, measuring a certain number of feet each. "MSH" or Marine Series Hose, is a standardized description of the type of hose required. Maintain an upward pressure on the hose at all times, and never use abrasive wheel tools to sever tubing.