Tacet

Apologies for my ignorance, but is not the alignment of the propeller shaft largely determined by the stern tube? If so (and assuming the shaft and tube are not excessively overly worn and are straight), if the gland is not concentric with the shaft - it suggests these two are misaligned, most sensibly pointing the finger at the gland.

I was more thinking of locomotive boilers with fire tubes. Bizzard has a terrifying picture of an exploded one. Maybe the one below?

Horizontal flues are all the rage in coal- fired steam boilers.

A quick Google suggests the 64 shares thing related only to registration and not to beneficial ownership. And it looks to have been repealed by the Merchant Shipping (Registration etc) Act 1993

The contracts vary in detail, but might typically say that if work costing more than 10% of the sale price is required, the vendor must either complete the work or reduce the price by the estimated costs. Any more than 10% and the deal is off with the deposit returned to the buyer. It seems to work OK with well presented boats. I can't see it working well with a scruffy boat where it's obvious poor condition is reflected in the price anyway.

Whilst it's not well worded, there is a distinction between "fully refundable" and "refundable in all circumstances"

A deposit would hardly be a deposit if it were fully refundable for any or no reason.

The last occasion LadyG recounted a similar experience, a little digging by others suggested she had asked someone on the lockside to assist, lent her windlass and then didn't like the way they helped. As far as could be made out, the someone was not a lockeeper of any sort - but may have had another CRT connection.

It is less than simple. Creating more residential moorings has similarities to building more houses. Before long, those that reside on the moorings will reasonably expect access to services such as education, health, utilities, fire fighting, public transport and others. Proper planning requires a lot.

That's true. Putting passengers ashore, having them clutter up the lockside and then recovering them to the boat is not risk-free MtB is heading for the upper Thames, I think, where he will be expected to have all crew on board and hold the boat with ropes. Hopefully he will survive.

Well, yes but by no means is it universal practice and I wouldn't go so far as to say it is an inappropriate risk, in all circumstances. It is sensible to weigh the various dangers, of course.

Next step would be too ensure no one is aboard. There is a horrible situation where the stern slips off the cill and the whole boat sinks deep into the lock.

Just about, maybe but even we're left with "by proceedings forthwith" which really needs a commencing or taking to turn it into English.

Not sure who is responsible for drafting that sentence, but I would not have much confidence in their legal capabilities. One might commence proceedings or even secure an order, but you don't secure proceedings.

In the old days, there was only the BF75 - and that is a new and wonderful thing compared to its competition.

Improves performance. Same as flush rivets on a Spitfire That is my initial reaction when someone claims their boat can turn in its own length, using only propeller and rudder. But IanD has previously posted some graphs and data suggesting that a Schilling rudder can give reverse thrust when the engine is ahead. If so, a boat turning in its own length will be more feasible. I am genuinely interested to see how it works out on his new boat. Bollard pull (push?) might be a key indicator

One of my erstwhile colleagues had the unenviable task of acquiring and demolishing the then Kray family home in Vallance Road, Stepney by compulsory purchase. Now you mention it, it has been a while since I heard from him.

Console yourself; you are saving the planet as you sink

There is a danger of some misunderstanding here. Essentially, concrete offers good protection to the steel reinforcement (or baseplate). Something to do with its alkalinity. However, over time concrete is subject to carbonation arising from CO2 in the atmosphere, which reduces its protective properties and can lead to spalling following expansion of the reinforcement. It is then you have a problem, as the concrete hides the trouble and then obstructs the usual scrape & paint means of addressing the rust.

Make up your mind!

Quite possibly. But the average under discussion is the number of arms of the average person, which is unambiguously the median and not the mean.