ORIGINAL: solocamcan
Sorry to dissapoint, but greasing the zerks won't change it, my friends who is the same year and size motor has the same issue, which is NOT having hydo. steering.
I agree with solo. 11 years is about right for many of the steering systems to go bad. My experience is it will get harder and harder to steer and then you will replace the steering unit. They can be easily ordered and sometimes aren't difficult to change. My bass boat is a bit smaller and the way the steering was required the motor to be lifted off the boat to install the replacement steering. I took it to the boat yard and for a couple of hundred dollars it steers better than it did in years. I wish I had dealt with earlier instead of putting up with it. In my case I suddenly couldn’t turn it anymore. Sooner or later they will seize up and that isn’t good if you are on the water.