1973 20SF fuel tank deck mod.
 

Anyone have any suggestions regarding cutting the deck, building a new fuel tank cover for a circa 1973 20SF? My '73 20SF I/O has the raised deck flange that the console screwed into, and it's gotta go, as I made a new console that is narrower than the original.
The flange is wider than the center stringers, so I'm going to have to cut it off the deck, build up the deck a bit, as well as cutting a panel between the stringers for the fuel tank, which was formerly under the console, and will now be a new below deck model.

Has anyone attacked this mod. before? Making the panel is doable, but I wanted to see if anyone had a few suggestions, tips, etc.

The deck is solid on this boat, and I'm not going for a replacement, so that is off the table....

Of course, this all started with "maybe I'll just add a new set of rodholders to the boat" about two years ago. And yes, I will post the boat porn this month of the other repairs.