I was pondering the same thing.How does water in any quantity get onto you steering quadrant?
But the body of the Rudders stop is the only thing that has the "edges" corroding.
Here is a wild guess.
My Hunter Rudder bearing has water in it [per design] and the Emergency Tiller has a cap on it on the cover of the steering.
Sea state water spout?
Then the only thing that catches and could hold any small water, is that Rudder bearing bracket.
Here is the before cleaning and full maintenance picture.
You can see the black stuff under the Rudder Stop. It was the edge of the bracket.
Also I noted the area in the immediate vicinity of the Rudder bearing is slightly discolored.
But there no water of any quantity getting under the cover. Plus that same day, I had a diver verify there was no play in my Rudder.
No other metal parts showed any signs of continued corrosion. The main sheave is the same as it was last year.
This whole compartment is well designed to slope aft so any cockpit water will not stay.
I would like any thoughts of why there is deterioration on that Rudder Stop bracket?
Jim...