putting in a steering cable and have a question

right before the cable attaches to the ruder there is a little black box like thing that wraps around the steering cable and held by 4 bolts, that is then attached to a anchor off the floor of the boat.. well my question is should that box have play where it is attached to the anchor in the floor or should it be tight there.. it was loose when i took it off but i could turn the bolt by hand and am wondering if it should not have play like that....

It should be a solid mount. In a previous boat the dealer said I needed a new cable because of "play" in the steering. When he got into it he found the clamp loose letting the cable bind. Tightened the bolts and didn't have to replace the cable.

That is the steering wheel/rudder centering adjustment. If you unbolt the top of that housing, the cable housing should have grooves in it to make minor adjustments forwards or backwards, but yes all the bolts should be tight and the whole unit should have no movement. Make note of the position of the old cable and re-install the new one the same. Use "NyLock" nuts or Locktite to stop the nuts and bolts from backing off if you need to.