Very Tight Steering

The steering cables tend to go/seize up. The best way to fix them is to replace them. If it's only while under way (ie with load against the rudder) sometimes the rudder packing/lube could be to blame.

If it's tight all the time, more likely the cable. They are replaceable though: Steering Cable.

I wouldn't consider that alone to be a deal breaker.

Easy to do yourself, but if this is a boat you are considering buying, get the owner to replace it before you do the deal. You need to drive the boat in proper condition before plunking down a bunch of money. Just my opinion.

A lot of guys do it themselves, I've never done one though. I believe your back seat would need tom come out, and it would make it easier if you removed your engine cover. There should be a floor panel between the rear seat and the engine cover that will also come out. Then you can unbolt it from the rudder side and un-fasten from the helm side.

I guess the trick is having some sort of a rope/wire line connected to the old one as you pull it out. Then you have a way to guide the new one back in.

If you check out the thread Another BFm Rebuild you'll see a bunch of pictures of an older Barefoot in various states of diss assembly. Not sure if they go into the cable there or not, but they do just about everything else!!