Sea Dog

But don't sit there when reversing. If the rudder hits something, the tiller will be force over hard and you might be in the way. It's a bad thing I tell ye!

Hammerite I'd agree. Andy Russell's stuff I used to use (no longer available) and the Leyland stuff I've had on the past year, not so much. The inevitable scrapes are simple to touch up, particularly if you don't wait til it's gone rusty. Ah, that's a shame, it was good stuff. Andy Russell's dropped off the market before covid - quite likely cos it was 50 quid a tin!

Most likely 2 full length lockers doubling up as bench seats.

One choice is a direct to metal type paint as it's simple to touch up. Andy Russell Gunwale Paint was a popular choice, but in it's absence I've used Leyland direct to metal in satin black. Actually, I think I prefer it and its a lot cheaper.

Fixed that for you

To be fair though Rob, they have to go for the lowest common denominator, so in that light it's not an unreasonable statement. Easier to give them a smile and a thumbs up than get wrapped round the axle about them not assessing individual skill levels of every boater before choosing what information to give.

Trouble is, so did everyone else's!

Alright, alright - calm down, calm down!

I suppose everyone can get a bit frustrated with their other half now and again, but reaching for the cat-o-nine-tails is rarely an acceptable answer nowadays.

It might be a mistake to think that zero displacement will get you a discount on your licence...

Not a bet I'd take. I moor not too far away and have yet to encounter any on the 21, so I'd be interested to hear if there are some.

It's not 'cos they're grown ups - it's 'cos the Chief Engineer would kick their a$$ if they misused the thruster...

Indeed. I've not had work done in the yard, but always stop at their shop & chandlers when I pass and give them whatever business I might have. I hope they recover from this awful setback.

I think there's merit in what you say at some level, but I'd be worried to know that someone who can't immediately grasp that concept without pictures might be at the helm of any boat, particularly a large one.

My Vetus 55kg has the central nut. I found a blade missing when out for blacking, so I replaced the plastic prop with a new genuine Vetus one. Easily done by wedging the prop whilst the central nut is freed. However, neither the old pin nor the new one were shear pins. Both were solid stainless which, if yours is the same, would mean your diagnosis may need a rethink.

Also some have labyrinth breathers which collect and recycle any vapour given off during recharging, so very little escapes.

That would be circlip pliers as @Pluto mentioned earlier - it would be a rather elegant but extravagant set of those, wouldn't it! Gotta be for something a little less mainstream than that, surely?

Couldn't agree more - I seem to spend more rejecting everything but the 'essential' than reading the articles. Bloomin' pain, but that's t'web. Shouldn't be allowed. Ar$©#oles!

Yeah, and well deserved (unless its been cancelled, in which case shame on everyone who ever even hummed it, me included) but when I said they didn't go down too well in the States, this article, entitled "This is why The Kinks were banned from the United States" better explains what I was thinking of... https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-kinks-ray-davies-banned-from-usa-america/#:~:text=The Kinks played a sizeable,other side of the Atlantic.

Fixed that for you. My boat from "reputable builder" came with a folder containing a bunch of OE manufacturers booklets or manuals, but very little in the way of the set up. I'm not alone, whatever the RCR/RCD say.

Ah yes, it should be quite an opportunity for you to improve your appreciation of British music since The Kinks didn't go down too well in the US.

I find that hard to believe.

I might have read the rest of your post if you'd included a picture of a cat being cute...

Try the folks at Beta Marine. They offer a number of hybrid setups - a quick chat may reveal whether any are suitable for you and your boat.

Have you tried getting illustrative quotes from some companies? Their standard questions may help you decide what you need and lead you to which companies offer what you want.