Strut / Stave Bearing Growl?

1994 SNOB with 600 hours.

At ski speed, during turns (to port or starboard) I hear and feel a "growl" when turning. The growl disappears when the rudder is amidships. My first thought is that the strut bearing (stave bearing) is going out.

If so, how difficult is it to change out the bearing? NP has the bearing ( http://www.nautiqueparts.com/strutbearingfor1shafts.aspx ) but the change-out is a little daunting. The Strut-Pro looks cool, but $400 is a little steep.

Suggestions?

JQ

How much if any play is there in the cutlass bearing? (sorry but I have NEVER heard it called a "stave" bearing)
BTW, for everyone's convenience, here's a proper link
The strut pro is not worth the cost. There are several threads on removing and installing cutlass bearings. A hack saw and threaded rod are basically all that's needed.
EDIT: I just googled "stave" bearing. You have the general idea using the term but the stave bearing is different than the typical cutlass bearing we use. The smaller cutlass bearings are one piece whereas the "stave" bearings are made up of individual segments.
Rob,
I'm curious as to how you came about misusing the "stave" term?

Did noise just start? How loose is the shaft in the cutlass?

TRBenj wrote: 3-blade Oj legend on the boat still? That's my bet to be causing the growl.

Yup. 3-blade OJ Legend. I've got an ACME 4-blade that I will try out. There is not much "play" in the shaft-to-bearing fitment. I don't really have any experience to know how much is too much.

JQ

Orlando76 wrote: Supposedly ANY play is too much.

Well, there is just a smidge of play. Looks like the strut/cutless bearing is next on my to-do list.

JQ