Good evening , when I took my newly aquired Chris craft 31 in its maiden voyage Saturday , I noticed I could turn hard port , but when I attempted a hard turn to starboard the steering got tight. I could barley turn it . I am afraid of snapping the cable if I apply anymore pressure to the wheel . The steering helm box and cable are original . I then looked at the rudder stems and lock nuts . The starboard rudder has some green galvanic corrosion on top of the stem where the gland nut is. I went to my local auto parts store and picked up some pb blaster and gave it a bath in that stuff . I’m hoping that as it sits with the penetrating oil it’ll wick its way down in there and help to free it up . The boat pretty much has sat for a year and a half without being used .hopefully things loosen up with use and all will be well again . Or else I’ll Be looking at a haul out soon. Has anyone here experienced this and had good results with a good penetrating oil on the rudder stem ?
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My 1972 41 has hydraulic steering and the helm had become very stiff. I mentioned it to the marina's owner, who incidentally has been this boat's sole mechanic since it arrived new from ChrisCraft, and he said, "follow me." He sprayed WD40 on the rudder arm fittings beneath the aft head and told me to go up and spin the wheel. That's all it needed. Problem fixed. The next owner can repeat the process in 2072.