It may not be to the point of being a problem just yet, but eventually it will wear out and your steering will get harder, then the seals will leak once the rudder shaft has enough play in the housing. It's just the brass housing itself the shaft rides on, unless they changed it to a replaceable bushing on the newer style (doubt it). Keeping it greased is not to take the play out of the rudder, it's to keep it for happening in the first place. If yours hasn't been greased regularly that could account for accelerated wear. Either way, grease it up and unless it's really bad and you're leaking water through the seals or it's very hard to steer under load, run it a few more seasons before worrying about it.
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