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Finnegan,

Thanks for the reply. I will definitely check their site and take that route. Fortunately my system is not that old (relatively). The helm bezel is labeled SeaStar II but I noticed that the steering assembly at the engine was labeled just "SeaStar". If I had to take a guess I'd bet it was installed when the engine was installed in the early 90s.

I noticed something very interesting after I removed the assembly. It had a 3/16" horizontal gouge taken out of the back of the cylinder that went from just to the port of the center-line of the cylinder all the way to the starboard side. It was as if the cylinder was stationary and the piece that connects the engine to the steering assembly cut that groove into it. I'm thinking something came apart at one point while the boat was underway to generate enough force to cut that groove. It was if someone used a router to cut that groove. No way a mechanic did it while pivoting the engine by hand with the engine disconnected from the steering.

I think its just cosmetic but if that is what happened, I would not have wanted to been on the boat when that groove was cut. Amazing what you find when you tear down down an old boat.

Thanks again

John