The progress overall is negative.
As summarized in Post #1, Seahorse at the time (June 2018) would not put in the bond and towage to bring the boat back to its yard ($$$), nor would it pay for fixing the boat in Hong Kong ($$$$$). Admittedly I was not happy because Seahorse knowingly delivered a defective boat, fully aware of this financial implication.
Subsequently to his credit, Bill Kimley had a change of heart. He wanted to replace the 2" Chinese shaft with a brand name 2-1/4", without the boat returning to the yard. In doing so he had to send his team to Hong Kong and ream the stern tube.
We are now back to square one, that nothing would be done unless I pay for the bond and towage to bring the boat back the yard. Also Bill no longer wants to talk to me.
Here are some more details:
1. Bill Kimley was furious upon seeing me in my visit to Seahorse on 31 August. He said my posts on various boating forums made Seahorse look bad. I was baffled for all along I told Bill about the posts. Bill said he no longer wanted to have anything to do with my boat, instead (his step-son) Fido would be in charge. Then he told me to leave his office and not to speak to him again.
2. Fido in the end ordered a Chinese made shaft, which had equivalent specification as an Aquamet 22. According to Fido the material is so rare in China that the mill had to roll a new bar stock just for my boat (and the new Puffin). I tried hard to change Fido's mind to no avail. The shaft was delivered to the yard on 21 September. It could not be machined because a critical parameter known only to the drafting lady was missing, and she was hospitalized. As of the last I checked with Stella Zheng on 13 December, the drafting lady was still in the hospital.
3. Seahorse made good progress on the reaming tool for the stern tube and assigned in my view, their best engineer Mr. Liu to lead the project. Mr. Liu joined Seahorse after my boat was delivered; he was a breeze of fresh air and struck me as someone who would not compromise on the quality of his work, and would pursue any quality issues with Seahorse Management. Unfortunately he just (end 2018) left the yard.
4. When last asked about progress in December 2018, Stella again talked about fixing the vibration when the boat returns to the yard. When asked about cash to pay for the tow and the bond, Stella did not reply.