I need help, I have 5-ish inches of play in my steering wheel, I checked the tiller arm and there is no play.

I have check both end of the cable and they are tight, however there is about 1/2 of play where the steering cable screws into the steering unit/valve?

Anyone know what is going on and how to fix it? My boat is a 1997 502EFI B1 and the steering unit (valve?) is gun metal grey not the black painted one.