It does not - cable steering only

I had that happen to me. Found out the P/S reservoir had low fluid. Cable steering also.

Fluid is full - power steering pump is new.
This winter I'm replacing the actuator, steering cable, and helm. (I'd love full hydro, but saving for the next boat).

That's got to be a scary feeling, and considering it's a stepped hull probably a pretty big liability if it's behaving the way you'd described. Personally, I wouldn't run the boat that way.

My thought is that the valving in the steering ram is taking a dump. It should be able to hold a fairly straight line at speed with counter-rotating props. My 311 would do somewhat similar things (no sharp scary turns but bad enough that I didn't like it). The steering was all but shot so I moved to full hydraulic and couldn't be happier.

I wouldn't say it's scary, it comes on slowly and builds. It's like a car that pull slightly left. No worries, if I felt it wasn't safe, I'd fix it sooner. Honestly it's 90% annoying and probably 10% hassle. I'm the kind of person where it's either PERFECT. Or it's a piece of $hit and I hate everyone and everything. For example: nothing makes me feel like my boat (which otherwise mechanically is very solid) than I had a belt chirp I couldn't solve. (finally did), but man, that chip just made want to sink the damn thing lol.

Previously the steering was loose, I did the JR marine fix (and replaced a ton of parts on the drive) it was 10x better than before. But I guess I didn't go far enough in parts replacement. I wanted to do the steering last winter, but had to do two engines instead and pushed it out another season. Also the engines took away my appetite for 1. more $ 2. more work.

I also suspect the actuator, the steering shaft flats were not vertical, and I have no idea for how long. They are vertical now, but the issue still persists.

Since you have full hydraulic (no steering actuator in boat, rams on the back, and it's 4 fluid lines to the helm, correct?)
(I've done a lot of reading thinking about going full hydro)
Can you: steer without the engine running? with no pressure - does the drive move at all?
Push the drive left/right from outside the boat? (just curious if it's like a trim ram, or what?)
Do you remove the steering actuator on the inside then?

thanks!

Mine is a full Latham system that uses the power steering pump as an assist. Four ports on the helm and it's connected to twin rams, the pump and reservoirs.

1. I can turn the boat without the engine running. Turning the wheel turns the drives. No issues. There isn't a lot of effort involved and in my experience nothing like losing the steering on traditional power steering. The power assist makes it turn like butter, no effort needed at all. You can also take your hands off the wheel and it'll track straight as an arrow.
2. The drives to not move AT ALL. Trying to move the drives moves the boat and trailer. There is absolutely zero play when trying to shake the drives. The rams are just like your trim rams so long as no air is in the system, impossible to move without internal push/pull of the hydraulics.
3, The entire steering system on the transom assembly is removed. The only thing you'll keep is the power steering pump. All lines, fittings, brackets, actuator, pins, etc. are removed. Everything is fluid driven.

You may be tempted to go with a half system. While it will work to keep the drives steady, there is still slop from the cable as well as the Merc ram. Full hydraulic is the only way to go. You won't believe how much better the boat performs and how easy it is to operate.

Hydraulic steering is THE BEST MONEY you could ever spend on a boat.

I know, I know, I know... ugh... would have been a lot easier to do with the engines out...

Who's everyone using for a full system for a 292 w/twin Bravo 1s? I really like the setup that puts 2 rams between the drives and has that triangle template in the middle...

thanks

Probably a stupid question but I don't think it's been mentioned here, do you have a tie bar?

Sounds similar to an issue I had many years ago and it was fixed with new gimbal bearings and the addition of a tie bar.

RR

Both props turning same side?