Boat steering is the set of mechanisms and cables that carry movement from the helm to the outboard or the rudder blade. Salt, water and sand slowly turn the factory grease into a stiff paste, the wheel gets heavy, jerky or develops play.
On outboard boats a sheathed cable runs from the helm to a telescopic rod passing through a tube at the transom. On a sailing yacht the wheel drives a sprocket, chain and wires that turn a quadrant on the rudder stock. Both are covered below.
What you will need
Important: Work with the engine off and the key removed. After reassembly, check that the helm turns the engine or rudder freely to both end stops.
Step 1
Inspect the outboard steering rod
Find where the steering cable leaves its sheath and joins the telescopic rod. The rod runs across the fixed part of the engine inside a tube and on the far side is bolted to the shaped link arm on the moving part. The rod and the tube are what need greasing.
If the nuts are crusted with salt and rust, spray them with WD-40 Specialist Penetrant first and give it 10-15 minutes to work.
Step 2
Remove the rod
Use a correctly sized spanner to undo the bolt joining the rod to the engine link arm. Turn the wheel so the whole rod retracts into the tube. On the opposite side fully unscrew the ring nut holding the rod in the tube and slide the assembly out.
Step 3
Strip the old grease
The rod usually still looks greased, but that grease is loaded with seawater and salt, so it has to go completely. Spray WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner on the outer body and the telescopic shaft, wipe with a cloth and repeat until no greasy residue is left on the metal.
Treat the inside of the tube the same way, then pull a cloth wrapped round a thin rod through it.
Step 4
Grease and refit
Apply WD-40 Specialist White Lithium Grease to the telescopic shaft, the rod body and inside the tube. The thick formula does not run and protects parts that cannot be greased often.
Slide the shaft into the rod and the rod into the tube, then tighten the ring nut. Use the wheel to push the rod head out of the engine body and reconnect it to the link arm, tightening the nut firmly.
Step 5
Clean the yacht steering gear
On a sailing boat the drive runs: wheel, sprocket, chain, steel wires, quadrant, rudder stock, rudder blade. Check each part in turn, starting at the sprocket. Remove hardened grease and dirt from the chain, wire sheaves and the quadrant adjusting rods with the cleaner and wipe everything thoroughly.
Step 6
Grease the gear and test
Treat every mechanism with white lithium grease, paying special attention to the chain links, the wire sheaves and the quadrant tie-rod adjusting nut. Turn the wheel from lock to lock so the grease spreads and make sure the movement is smooth with no tight spots.
Tip: Finish by misting the cable sheath, brackets and fixings with
WD-40 Multi-Use to keep moisture out.
What next
Service the steering at least once a season: in spring before launching and in autumn before winter storage. In salt water, check it more often.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».