You only use the skimmer/s
no,wouldnt use silicone due to heat going through stat housing,use a high temp "gasket sealer"
You can make a paper gasket out of a cereal box that would be better than using Silicone -but if you can't figure that out use very little silicone.
Not sure what engine you are working on but if you are using a new gasket there is no need for silicone unless the directions included with the new gasket require it.
No, it will leak.
You could get yourself a floating swimming pool skimmer. They hook up the same way as an ordinary automatic pool cleaner.They are an Australian pool cleaner known as either the dragonfly supper skimmer. or the pulse surfase cleaner. they are also available from a place in Texas dragonfly floating pool skimmer. othewise you have to use a net
has to be heat resistant.
drill them out and use stainless steel ones next time
Silicone sealer, or gasket maker, even if you have a cork gasket use sealer. I recommend Ultra Black or Ultra Blue. Priscilla =^.^=
Ask someone in the pool to retrieve it, or use the skimmer pole to drag it out. Last recourse, of course, is to go into the pool and get it.
No. You cannot use the main drain to lower the water level below the skimmer. This is because the main drain is not really a drain. It only connects right back to the 3 port valve in the skimmer.
There are suitable products available at your pool shop. avoid cleaners with phosphates as these feed Algae the last thing a pool needs. A good way to keep the ring of the pool is to have the skimmer working as well as possible or use a floating skimmer that will always work at optimum.