SeaStar hydraulic steering leak

I was sitting in my boat in the garage the other day listening to classic and enjoying a cold one. I noticed a small pool do liquid in the sash well ( i think that’s what the area is next to the motor). I felt the SeaStar cylinder. There was grease or lubricant of some sort apparently leaking out. It’s a Crestliner 1850 Bass Hawk that I bought in the Fall. The motor turns just fine side to side. Not an emergency, but steering the boat is pretty important. I would think the dealer would refill and check the seals. It has been kept in an unheated garage all winter. Thanks for any advice. Sam

It is most likely a bad seal. That is probably hydraulic fluid. You won’t necessarily notice it right away when steering but it will eventually get worse and cause air in the hydraulic lines and your steering will get worse. Not sure what a shop charges but I did mine last year myself by watching YouTube. Seals are 50$ish bucks and then you need to bleed the hydraulic lines. Little messy and time consuming but not too bad.

I ordered one from Amazon last time. Local dealer wanted more than twice the price just for the parts. I walked away imagining that shop time would have doubled the price again.

They offer kits with and without the spanner wrench.

Mine leaks a little in the Winter when it gets below freezing but is just fine when it warms up. Never over tighten the cap on the reservoir at the helm. In the dead of Summer when temps get hot, the fluid will expand and want to blow a seal if the vent cap is over tightened. I also carry a small bottle of the steering fluid in the boat in case there was ever an need.

Are you sure it is that and not something coming from the engine, I know I get some residue in my splash well from my Opti over time..

Ran into the guy from the dealership at the gas station today. He asked if i had the motor trimmed up over the winter. I had it about a 45 degree angle. Maybe something leaked out. Ill take it in next week to check. Ive got another that needs fixing,too. Thanks

When my Seastar leaked over an off season the cylindar drained down to the point that the motor turned under it’s own weight.

The hydraulic fluid from the steering should be lighter weight and color and cleaner than anything that would come out of an engine. If the motor is a two stroke the oil is usually dyed, dead give away. Motor oil will be thicker.

Be sure to buy Seastar fluid, don’t use regular hydraulic, power steering fluid or atf fluid.

The dealership is replacing it under warranty. Better than a patch job.