Helm hard to turn on my 21ec

[Two killicks]

Went in the tug (on trailer) sitting for about 2 weeks on dry land and I noticed that the helm was hard to turn on both side!
I turned the wheel many times on both side and it seems ok now. I could hear a weird squeling noise as I was doing this at first. The noise is gone too... I looked at the rudder it all seem to be good. The angle on the rudder seems to be about 30 degrees on both side at full right or left rudder. Any thoughts? The rudder seems to be greased properly and the noise seems to come from the cabin, has to be the helm or the cable...

 

[RSC]

Last year after my boat had sat for a long period I experienced a hard steering condition. I traced the problem to the shaft at the end of the steering cable that is attached to the rudder. It had acquired some corrosion / film that was inhibiting a smooth action through the shaft seal/ housing. I cleaned the shaft, lubed it and it cured the stickiness. That may or may not have been your problem. I assume that at some point the entire cable may need some lubrication in its housing.

 

[Two killicks]

Thanks for the reply, I will check this out tonight...