Bravo 3 Drive w. a Broken Flange

[San_Diego_SeaRay]

1993 Chaparral 270 Signature w. a 7.4L Carb'd Engine

Gonna try to install this Bravo 3 on my boat this summer. I bought this used for cheap on Craigslist. When I bought it, I didn't noticed this ear/flange piece was broken:



Would probably be pretty expensive to have a welder fix it. If I don't have it fixed, how will it affect the drive? Looks like it functions as some kind of trim rail guide.

 

[alldodge]

Those help absorb the load on the drive. When turning the load increases, so it can be heavy. Don't know what the effects would be over time