My steering has started acting up. It turns smooth as silk at idle but under speed it gets tight and sometimes it’s unresponsive. I can turn the wheel a couple turns sometimes without the boat turning. I can’t find where fluid is leaking anywhere. Do I need to purge the system and start with fresh fluid or just add some? I found the steps for purging the system completely which sounds involved. That’s why I was wondering if I should start by adding some first.
If you lost to much fluid you will most likely have no choice but to bleed your steering system after you add fluid. But first add fluid.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
Add fluid.
If that doesnt fix it, flush all the old out and replace.
The manufacturers instructions are good, but for flushing purposes they are overly complicated.
Get a filler kit like this (in your size): http://www.amazon.com/Seastar-HA5438-Kit-Filler-Medium/dp/B00144GJMY
Hook it to the helm, then to the bottle. Tip bottle upside down. Find something to hold it there. Poke a little hole in the bottom of the bottle.
Hook up clear tubing to the bleeder. Line should run into a container.
Turn wheel hard left. This is not a race, take it easy.
Open Bleeder
Once it hits stop, keep turning. As you continue to turn you will be pumping fluid out the bleeder into the container.
Continue this until you see good clean fluid coming out the bleeder (may take an entire bottle)
Close the bleeder
Replace bottle if needed.
Turn wheel hard right.
Open Bleeder
Once it hits stop, keep turning. As you continue to turn You will be pumping fluid out the bleeder into the container.
Continue this until you see good clean fluid coming out the bleeder (may take an entire bottle).
close the bleeder.
Turn wheel hard left to hard right 5 times.
The bottle should still be hooked up with fluid in it.
Remove the filler kit and bottle.
Your system should be fully purged of air and old fluid.
Turn hard left, wheel should feel firm at stop.
Turn hard right, wheel should feel firm at stop.
Use Seastar fluid.
It’s expensive.
Do not shake the bottles of fluid.
My 20ft CC took 1.5 qt bottles to fully purge.
Thanks. That’s definitely an easier explanation than what I was looking at. Looks like the filler kit will help too.
Forgot.
When your done bleeding the system and everything feels correct.
tip the bottl upright and untwist from filler kit.
Leave the filler kit attached to the helm. The hose should be full of fluid.
Turn the wheel to stop.
Open bleeder
keep turning until the fluid in the filler kit drops into the helm.
Close bleeder.
Remove filler kit.
This just keeps you from dumping a hose full of fluid all over.
Excellent instructions!! 
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose