and was very stiff (still is, but improved). I suspect that since it was a wheel, and hydraulic (and hydraulics are very strong, with no feel), the bad stiffness in the helm I'm feeling now since I changed the helm to tiller was probably inevitable!

So, I'd really like to re-do the bushing/rudder bearing with something that will work well...Rulon sounds like a good, slipper solution...

The benefit of the very stiff helm is that the boat self-steers very well (without self-steering gear or sheet-to-tiller set up), but it's often a real pain to steer!

Jud