UPDATE:
Finally finished my repair on the 100+ gal fuel tank. Since I moor my boat and live 45 minutes away it took much longer than I initially thought. I inspected the tank all around for any other corrosion. There was none other than the water damage at a fuel outlet barb (my bad). I sealed, and 2-part cold-tar epoxied (heavy build) that area and all I could reach around the tank. I installed a gas vapor sensing gauge in the deepest part of the bilge/tank area. I tested the gauge by placing a gas soaked rag into the bilge area far away as I could from the sensor. It alarmed within a minute and took quite awhile to reset after the rag was removed.
Also installed a multi-stage fuel filter system (above deck by the motor). 1st a see-thru 40 micro filter, then a spin on 10 micron fuel filter water separator with a clear bowl with drain. Then another see-thru filter to allow me to see if gas is flowing to the motor. After burning through 30 gal of gas I emptied the spin on filter into a glass beaker to see if there was any captured contaminates or water. There was none.
To test out the repairs I filled the fuel tank with 75 gal of gas. while watching the vapor gauge. If there was still a hole somewhere within the tank it would show up here as the fuel pushes out the gas vapors. No gas alarm after filling or while sloshing around in an angry ocean. All was good so off to catch some dinner.
Next project is to repair the holes I've put in around the boat from my many reconfiguration projects over 17 years of ownership. Then paint the boat by hand. My other boat with my cousin in Alabama is almost ready (1976 PRO-LINE flats/grass boat) to fish the backwaters of the South come next Fall. It's got my former 2005 F150 I replaced on my Cabo with a new F150. I'll just keep my Cabo here for the time being and enjoy this view several times a week as I extend my search for those elusive halibut.
irresistible love poems