Welcome to the world of old Mercruisers. They seem to rot away faster than you can restore them. Faiford lake revealed a rotten exhaust riser and trim ram. I had already replaced the head.block. timing cover.
oil pan and manifold.- all corroded beyond repair.

Disconnect the cable and try to select on the drive lever? -- if the cable is free then undo the bolts that hold the shift lever mechanism on the side of the drive and pull it out, - be careful the shifter selector lever inside is spring loaded - and see if you can move the male cone up and down by ...

Pretty sure some Triumph classic cars used Strombergs. Sorry I cannot help with the prop size. I started my aprentiship with Meakes in 65 and they had just started to import the Fjord Olympics. and 17ft Fjordlings. I understand yours was the previous model. Well built to DNV quality standard.

Nice choice.... I think I would have bought it if I didn't other projects on the go, The VP110 is original as are the strombergs, - I was working on them, (and Fjords) in the mid 60's! - and I think you boat could be 1964-66? The early VP110's are high compression engines so happier on 98 octane fue...

Floater is spot on - its the taper/cone on the bolt/nut hole that centers the wheel on the hub - the majority of trailer hubs have a rough cast finish on the bearing carrier center so it wouldn't center the wheel correctly. One point to mention is that it's important to torque the wheel nuts correct...

Does anyone have the spec. for this? - probably old school tech and a calcium based soap - would help if we had an NGLI grade from an old tin but I still have some contacts with the old firm, and there must be a modern equivalent with better additives.

The Hornet is coming along well, Does anyone have an spare Volvo 250-280 drive transit bracket - (The bit that supports the weight of the drive when its being transported and saves it bouncing and breaking the tilt mechanism)
Looks like this !

Awesome power from upgraded automotive engines, but at $90,000 per engine? - interestingly Volvo Penta are major shareholder in the company!
Been around a while but worth a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA3FBBwJt1w

Please let me start this post with an apology for not being in attendance at CMBA events this year, this is the reason (in short), There is an interesting back story and I should be able to put a small article together for the mag.) - On a cold January morning this year, while having a cuppa' in a l...

Nice one.