yea Svence take some pics....my steering seems pretty stiff too and I can see a replacement in my future. And I have the same boat and motor so you're gonna be my go to guy some time.

I just did mine less than a year ago. Had to pull the motor to get the steering rod out of the tilt tube, it was like an inch short and the angle wouldn't let it happen.

Not sure if you bought your parts yet but I found keenzo.com (random webpage, but legit) to have the cheapest cable and helm when I was shopping.

-Svence

mine is an 83 and i did not have to remove engine. the only nut you have to remove is the one on the cable, big long and silver & the nut on the bottom of the drag link that goes through the end of the cable.

I may be in the same boat this season, did you guys find a 17 or 18 foot cable was the ticket?
Mine is a 92

The factory cable is a 16'. The smallest cable Defenders carried was 17' so that is what I used. I had to put a small dip in the cable under the gunnel were the cable hangs from some PVC that is fiberglassed under the gunnel to take up a bit of the extra length.

Here is a shot under the gunnel.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d4...220101409a.jpg

The motor hanging from the cherry picker.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d4...220101114a.jpg

From the other side.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d4...220101333c.jpg

I was happy to see no water intrusion.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d4...220101333a.jpg

Just spoke to my marina (Irwins Red Bank, NJ) mechanic today and he's quoting me 3-4 hours labor (at 120 per hour). So I'm looking at almost a grand to fix when you throw in $200-250 for the part and the $200 fee they charge to pull the boat. I dont have a trailer so im kinda screwed. Thats why i was hoping i didnt have to pull the motor. If i didnt have to pull the damn motor I'd do the job myself. If i have my boat hauler pull it for me and block it that alone is pretty big expense in itself, so I might as well just let the marina mech do the job. This boat costing me too much! I'm still dealing with an overheat alarm so once i get the steering done who knows what.... [just did the water pump - pees fine so i think it may just be the stats which looked like crap - though they did open at 135 degrees on the stove when i tested which concerns me that it may be some other problem]. I wish I could afford a new boat and have a few years problem free! maybe one day.

If I do it myself I will post some pics....i owe this site alot so I will give a little back....it may not be pretty and my mug is one ugly mug so bare with it....

Ugh... That's rape in the first degree. (IMHO) For that kind of money it might pay you to look in Craigslist for a trailer and do the job yourself. $700 is a lot of money to spend for no tangable return. ($120 x 4 = $480 + $200 = $680 x 7% tax = $727.60) That's pure LABOR and you still have to pay for the part(s)

At least if you buy a trailer you have:

1) A trailer
2) No slip fees (in your locale at least $1200 annually)
3) Easy access to doing any work on the boat that
you want to do.
4) The ability to go to lakes, rivers and shores that are
out of your reach right now.

I used to have a slip at Leonardo State marina and a much bigger boat, but the State kept increasing slip fees and truthfully, as I became an empty nester the larger boat was more trouble than it was worth. So I downsized to a V20 and left the slip and the expense to others. To my way of thinking, trailering is the only way to go. It's easy, cheap compared to slips, and gives me freedom to go where I want.

This is, of course, assuming that you have a house where you can keep the boat, a vehicle that can tow it, and the skill to do your own repairs. If you don't then forget everything I just said and pardon an old salt for spoutting off. :zip:

Oh.. and I used to have that same kind of overheat problem with my 200 Merc...turned out to be one of the overheat sensors on the motor. Might want to check them out before you spend any more money :news:

Sven...don't go down on the first quote you get...look around and find an individual who's capable, has a trailer and will do the job w/out stressing your wallet...there are guys out there who'll do a good job for you and not wipe out the life savings...

For a Grand I would cut the shaft and remove the steering, buy new Hydraulic steering and install myself! No need to remove the motor or boat from water that way