Bayliner Capri very hard to turn and engine wouldn’t start on the water

[ClaySmoove]

Brand new boat owner here. Recently bought a 1998 bayliner Capri 1750. Wheel is incredibly hard to turn similar to a car with no power steering but honestly worse. Then stopped the boat on the water to fish off for a bit and then I went to start and it was chugging but when I went to throttle it forward it would die and the engine just wouldn’t turn over. Finally let it sit for about 10 min and then after a few tries it kicked on and we made it back. Any ideas why it’s not turning good? Or why it wouldn’t start up after we were already out on the water for a while?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Your boat is 25 years old. Could be your motor doesn't have power steering, could be your helm and steering cable are shot, could be the drive swivel shaft is corroded.

Is this an outboard or I/O?

What trouble shooting have you done?

 

[ClaySmoove]

It’s an I/O. Headed home from the lake now. Where should I start with troubleshooting?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Does it only turn hard when you are underway?

Or all the time?

If it's a 3.0, you don't have power steering, so you only need to check the helm and cable and the drive swivel

Disconnect the helm cable from the tiller arm link. Does drive turn easy? If yes, move to helm cable. If no, you have a drive issue

With the cable disconnected, you should be able to turn the steering wheel with 1 finger

 

[ClaySmoove]

It’s an I/O. Headed home from the lake now. Where should I start with troubleshooting

 

[dubs283]

90% of the time hard steering is the steering cable between the helm and tiller arm at the transom assy.

Some 3.0 liter mercruisers do have power steering. Easy check, if the engine has one v belt, no power steering. Two belts, has power steering

If your engine isn't equipped with power steering another possibility aside from the cable is the trim tab anode. Without power steering the prop torque combined with water passing the drive on step will force drive to one side. Incredibly hard to steer one way, super easy (almost dangerously quick) the other way. Not very noticeable at idle/low speeds. Solution is to loosen and rotate the trim tab anode to compensate for the excess torque.

As far as the hard start when warm could be the carburetor flooding the engine upon shut down. Causes are dirty/faulty carburetor or incorrect float height