How much play allowed in vertical shift shaft?

[Howard Sterndrive]

How much does this shaft and bushing seal water out on an Alpha One Gen II?. My vertical shaft seems rather loose in the bushing. Even if snug in the bushing, it doesn't seem to have any sort of water tight seal. Why does water not flow through there from exhaust chamber and fill the cavity where the shift cable is, traveling into shift cable sheath and ruin lower cable?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

as soon as I posted that, I found this https://forums.iboats.com/forum/engi...win-seal-style

so I guess my upper bushing is shot and I'll change both but not sure what best to order. There seems to be a couple of different styles available of bushing with seals.Would 23-805041A2 be the best style?

My drive is a 1992 alpha one gen II- one site selling that part says it only fits 1994 and up with a serial number higher than mine. I don't want to drop $50 on a part that won't fit.