I have owned two outboard boats with the hydraulic steering setup ;
the last one seized up and was always way too stiff after that. My
current boat I had not used it for about 3 weeks and when I went to
put it away for the winter, viola, it was seized. I managed to free
it up and it is not too stiff now. But before putting it away for the
winter how can I prevent that nastieness come spring time ?

Do leave the piston thingy out or in , do lubricate it or what
should I do ? The boat goes into an old barn and I wont be able to
access it till spring. Thanks alot for any help.