Mercury 2.5 Exhaust leak

[Toeknee217]

Thank you @FORBESAUTO you figured it out.
I ended up taking the lower cowl off and checking the exhaust reliefs and sure enough they were just shooting exhaust straight into the lower cowling and with nowhere else to go it would come out the steering area. I can definitely see this as being worsened once in the water and causing my idling issues as well.
I haven't been able to find any y pipe style exhaust boot to route it out the single exhaust opening on the newer style lower cowling.
I believe im going to have to find an older set of cowlings which leave the slots open as you mention above.