Graeme,
I suspect jyaski might be right, my old Suz had a plate that covered up the tiller mount hole.
As for the engine year, I suspect you have a 1993 vintage machine, but are you certain the "6F9" isn't a "6E9"?
http://www.marinshopen.se/Hj%C3%A4lp...4/Default.aspx
hints from the chassis number it's a '93, but that would imply a 6E9, which also kind of agrees with the Ishop marine Microfiche......
If it's manual start it's more likely not to have an alternator, BUT, going by my best guess, the Ishop microfiche seems to hint it's an option on that engine.
Engine certainly looks clean and cared for.