How do i unlock the boat motor?

i have a carolina skiff with a 25 horsepower mercury and i think its hydraulic steering. the motor wont move and the steering wheel wont either. is it locked up, does it have to have a battery to steer, or is there a way to lock the motor in place for travel and unlock it? all i see is a hydraulic hose going from the steering wheel to the motor.How do i unlock the boat motor?
If it is one 'hose' then it is cable steering, operated by a single push/pull cable from a worm drive behind the steering wheel, or helm. The symptoms described are typical of a seized cable. These are not fixable, and the cable will require replacement. Should excessive pressure have been applied to the wheel as the cable got stiffer, it is possible the drive system behind the helm is not healthy either, but with luck it will be o.k. - just be prepared for the worst, and take the bonus if additional parts are not required. The pivots (tilt and steering) on the engine should be checked and well greased while the steering is off to confirm free and smooth operation. If you have not got some experience in this you are best off taking a deep breath and paying a professional to do it right - steering is a critical thing, and you cannot afford for anything to go wrong at all with it while operating your boat. As part of the service the technician should instruct you on future maintenance and how to park the engine to minimise water entry into the cable in the future.How do i unlock the boat motor?
the "hose" between the wheel and the motor is more likely a cable, much like a bike has for brakes or shifting gears.



at the motor end you should be able to remove a nut at the very end of the cable or in the center of the outboard where the steering link connects and disconnect that cable fromt he outboard very easily.

with that done, try to turn the outboard by hand, it should turn easily. if it doesnt, the outboard itself has frozen.

and try to turn the wheel, it too should turn easily. if it doesnt, its probably the cable itself. but if you can easily go ahead and disconnect it from the wheel and see if the wheel turns easily by itself.How do i unlock the boat motor?
Your motor is supposed to turn freely. It is probably just locked up with rust and such. try to give it a good pull. that should do it ;-)