Hey guys.

My ranger 487 has cable steering.  It'sa 1994 model.  I took it to the shop today to have the cables replaced.  The shop owner said that I probably won't have to do this again for several years, but that he wasn't surprised that we need to do it due to the age of the boat.  Anyway, is there any way that I can do regular maintenance on the cables to help them last as long as possible?

thanks guys!

You can basically keep the steering shafts as clean as possible year round.  I've tried those lube fittings for the ends but I don't recommend them anymore.  The grease just gets sucked into the through holes on the motor, breaks down and gets gummy.  I would've suggested Hydraulic steering if you were planning on keeping the boat for awhile.

Thanks Cart.  Can you ballpark hydraulic steering's cost?

Well, they're not cheap. You're looking at around $1000 for a system if you install it yourself. The advantages far outweigh any disadvantages. Solid, NFB steering with no engine torque felt in the wheel at all.  No cable to worry about rusting or keeping clean and lubed.  A whole lot easier to install than trying to pull a pair of steering cables through the boat.