you don't need to pull your shaft to change the cutless - there are special tools to pull it out like the strutpro and many DIY solutions.
HOWEVER - be very careful - if you do decide to pull the shaft it will clear the rudder, but there is a nut on the shaft UNDER the flange that bolts to the transmission in addition to the normal setscrew on the side. If you remove the setscrew and then try to pull the shaft, you'll destroy the transmission.
HOWEVER - be very careful - if you do decide to pull the shaft it will clear the rudder, but there is a nut on the shaft UNDER the flange that bolts to the transmission in addition to the normal setscrew on the side. If you remove the setscrew and then try to pull the shaft, you'll destroy the transmission.