I Need Power Steering Help!!!!!

[stoliti]

I was hoping that I could get some assistance on figuring out what is wrong. I have a 97 Volvo Penta 4.3L GL I/O on my 18.5 ft boat. The steering is very, very tight and the belts have a very high pitched squeal (like a dry belt). The steering is so tight that we have a tough time manueverign the boat we are moving in slow speeds. The power steering fluid was a very light caramel looking color and we changed it a few times and the color seemed to change back to the caramel look within 30 minutes of running the boat. We were informed that the only way that we could be getting water into the power steering fluid container (other than sinking the boat) was through a bad power steering/oil cooler. Well, we changed the oil/power steering cooler. The PS fluid is not changing colors as it was before (which indicates that there is no more water seeping through a bad oil cooler). BUT... the steering is still tight and the belts are still squeaking. We took the cap off the power steering fluid container and turned on the boat to see if there was any movement in the P/S fluid while we moved the steering wheel - and there was no liquid movement.

Are there any other tests that we can do before we go out and by a new power steering pump?

HELP!!! We are running out of options to test.....

[marshmat]

Try inspecting all the elements of the steering linkage visually; if a bushing is seizing up somewhere, that could be part of the problem. With most 4.3 motors, you should be able to easily steer lock-to-lock with the engine off (some pure-hydraulic systems aren't always like this though). Is your system purely hydraulic, or hydraulically-assisted cable steering?