Steering Cable stiffness

Hi CCF Friends

I have a 95 Ski Nautique, When I bought the boat about 5 years ago the person I bought it from told me he had replaced the steering cable recently, less then 1-2 years. The last 5 years I could turn the wheel with one finger , it was very smooth. Now I have to use my hand and use a bit of force and its not constant resistance when turning the wheel. I replaced the packing in the rudder 3 years ago with GFO gore tex stuff.

When I was replacing the packing my father said to me "while your down there you should put grease on the steering cable" the part that is exposed near the rudder. Could this have done something? This was done 3 years ago. However its been ok up till now.

Could the cable be done already? Could the rudder packing be to tight? however its been fine the last 3 years.


Thanks