On Thursday while I was out running around I noticed a high-pitched squeal running along about 3400 rpm, slowed to idle and it went away, didn't come back for some time but eventually did. Once at the dock I started checking the normal things and all was good until I checked the power steering fluid pump reservoir, it was down a couple of inches, to where the fluid didn't register on the dipstick. Looked all around at what I could easily get to, didn't see any evidence of a leak. Took the boat out again a few hours later, no squeal until heading back home, not as bad...more intermittent. Stopped and checked the power steering reservoir again and it was a little lower than what it was (allowing for hot operation versus cold)...so I topped it off, this time with ATF thinking I'd be better able to see the red fluid instead of the clear fluid that was in it. As chance would have it, that night a rainstorm came up and I got a few inches of water in the bilge, but not enough to trip the float switch on the bilge pump. But this water was definitely contaminated with oil, I assume from the power steering since the engine oil system seems fine.
As I've gotten older it is becoming harder and harder to climb around like a monkey and get into tight spaces, but once again just feeling around with a white rag on various hoses, I found nothing. However, I did notice some oil on top of the mounting plate where the steering arm connects to the outdrive...tried to get a picture but just couldn't get any decent photos. A bystander who was observing what I was doing and having a conversation with me about it suggested it could be the power steering cooler, which appears to be just behind and to the left (looking rearwards) of the distributor.

I put the boat back in storage Friday so didn't get much more opportunities to check things out, but I was curious what others think could be the source of the leak, and also if there's a chance I've damaged my p/s pump? It never ran dry, not even close, but I did still have that squeek/squeal a little bit.
This is on a 2000 model year 454 MPI and Bravo One.

It could be purging air from the system causing the fluid drop since you see no fluid in the bilge, the squeak squeal could be a bearing going bad in the pump ?

So about that pump...does anyone have an automotive cross reference to it? Because it lists for over $920.00 on the marine parts sites!

Merc Power steering Pump 16792A39 cross reference to GM Part #
or
https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/a-...ring+pump,7380

Hope this helps with what you looking for.

Ah man...perfect! This is one of the reasons I LOVE this forum!

I AM seeing some sort of fluid in the bilge...sorry if I wasn't clear on this. But I only saw it when I had got a little rainwater in there, to make it visible.

it is just a GM pump but make sure to use the outlet pressure valve and spring from the original. that is what sets the pressure in the system.

Ayuh,..... To find the leak,.... Do you have a digital camera, or phone,..?? If so, it'll fit, where yer head won't,.....

You can use dye to make finding leaks easier.
Read reviews:

Well hell, I actually have a kit like that already! Have had it for years, bought it to find a leak on my RX-7. Thanks for jogging my memory!