Loose steering
 

I have a 2000 280 w/ 117 hrs. I love the boat. I noticed my first mechanical problem w/ the boat. The steering seems to be loose. All of the sudden it takes about a 1/4 turn of the wheel to get the drive to move. I noticed that the power steering cylinder moves back and forth as I turn the wheel. (about 1/4'') It looks like the cylinder may pivot on its mounting bolt. Should this be tight? I think I may have lost a gear tooth in the steering box at the helm. Anyone else had this problem?
Thanks,
Chris

with someone watching the hydraulic cylinder at the transom turn the wheel untill it just moves . Is the play in between the stearing wheel and the transom. ( lots of wheel movement before linkage moves at the transom) Or if the linkage at the transom moves with little wheel movement than the slop may be in the tiller arm assembly. If the play is in the tiller arm assembly try tightening the two nuts to 50 ft lbs that are at the top of the outdrive at the point where it pivots. ( These should be checked at least yearly) These nuts are on the gimbal ring.