I think the internal of the shaft is alright, its the exposed threads that are making me nervous,
I don't think it is leaking so I am going to try and ride out the rest of the season, and add the repair/replacement to my Christmas list.
The prop on the other hand,
has seen better days, and will have to be put down *:-[
Blue_ Runner, thanks for the link, that is the exact lower unit I need! just wrong coast and high cost, I am in Newport RI, but the one thing I did pick up was that he had the skeg replaced, and that hopefully is all i need *???
Thanks again.