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Also, are there any tried and true ways to seal the tank cover other than the 4 corner screws; weatherstripping, silicone, what? I'd almost like to form a gasket around it lip of the cover and just just the screws clamp it down...
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Hey Gillie,
It sounds like your tank is original, as all fittings are same configuration and location as mine. I used to have a big watertight hatch cut into the splashwell and could access the fill and engine supply hoses and tank ground fitting from there. When enclosing the transom, Don Herman cut out the entire bottom surface of splashwell, which really opens up access to the bilge. The pickup tube is welded into tank and extends down to about 1/8" or less off the bottom; don't believe there is a screen on it. I believe my elbow is brass also, but never had a problem with it; I used the teflon liquid tape made by Permatex and have never had a problem with it. I suspect someone sealed your tank sending unit gasket with silicone, which won't stand up to gasoline, especially with the ethanol in it. Have to use something like the old No. 2 Permatex non-hardening stuff. There's probably more silicone in the tank, so I'd pull the tank and clean it; it's really easy to pull the tank on a Seafari. While you have it out it'd paint it with some coal-tar epoxy, which will eliminate any future corrosion issues. I installed a whistle in the vent hose, which helps to avoid overflows when refueling.
As for the hatch, it was originally sealed with silicone caulk in the gap between hatch and deck. If you need to pull hatch after it's been sealed, just cut thru the silicone with a sharp X-Acto knife in center of the gap, all the way around tank. As long as the silicone remains attached to the hatch and the deck, it'll remain relatively watertight when you put it back in, not perfect, but probably good enough. Denny