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I'm in the process of replacing the old copper steering lines with new Seastar 3/8" nylon tubing. The tubing comes in rolls and it does not want to straighten! I can get it through the pilaster but it will be a mess on the long run under the coaming where I want it to be straight and it wants to revert to a coil. Is there any way to straighten it? Put it in the oven at 200 degrees (when the wife isn't home)?

Feed it inside a piece of PVC

I just went to a shop and had some hydraulic hoses built. Lot cheaper than seastar.

I went to a local shop and had hoses made as well. But I second putting it through some small pvc pipe. You could try heating a piece I guess it might take the memory out.

Stretch it out tight tied between two piling or fence posts in the hot sun for a day and see if that helps

Thanks everyone. I decided to go the pvc route.

Wouldn’t be a 31 if it wasn’t a little bit different. I removed the inside pilaster panel and found….another panel. Not sure what the three round greenish things on the lower edge are, likely bronze carriage bolt heads with some verdigris.



I’m pretty sure I could carefully cut into this panel to access the chase but it’s not something I want to do under time pressure. So the outer panel went back on and the autopilot will install on the old copper lines. That will allow me to remove the home made lower helm and clean up the windshield and console. Good enough for now, time to go cruising!