A letter must be changed in each clue before solving. There is also 1 clash...
2a Delia's vessel, perhaps, floated past sheltering snake (9,2 words) S??M? / BOAT The correct letter is T i think...
3d A sound character, retired Penny, made up for kissing things (4) ??T? possibly Missing?
Neveracrossword, I think the possible confusion I was seeing is that there would be a 'T' where saladdodger has shown it (that cell is the start of 13a and the answer to the clue does begin with 'T') at least until the instructions in the preamble are followed.
If saladdodger has the right answer to 13a the 'T' 'conversion' is very important for the endgame.
You seemed to be suggesting that the 'T' from the crossing answer at 9a had been misplaced - I was hoping to avoid further confusion on that score... but perhaps I'm being over cautious .
Thanks, PM. I was looking at confusion from the other angle - if SD's T, from 13 A was correct, I'd thought he would have amended the (4) shown in the OP. I hope he's able to follow all this!
Neveracrossword - saladdodger possibly deferred entering the answer to 13a because it couldn't be made to fit - I was uneasy about the correct starting letter of its answer being questioned, that's all.