OK, I'll need to clarify. Yes my water level was lower because I did the install prior to opening for the season. I also , as some know, did the PVC upgrade as well. Because of this , I lowered it to the inlet.
With that said, it made both mods very painless. To install without cutting the gasket, I held it in place on the outside of the pool where I wanted to mount it. I then took a sharpie marker and marked the inside corners of the gasket on the wall of the pool for reference and making sure to keep it as level as possible. No I didn't use a level, I eyeballed it. I did however check it and it wa level. ?
After making my reference, I popped the two top corner holes with a small Philips, then the bottom two corners. (I believe I popped these once I screwed the top two into the skimmer)
I then mounted the skimmer in place with the entire gasket on the outside, under the skimmer, in position and screwed those first four screws in place. Then popped the rest, of the holes. Took it apart and mounted it properly. Once mounted, I cut the liner making sure not to cut through the gasket.
I took it all apart, installed the gasket properly, and installed the skimmer and faceplate.
Piece of cake. You'll notice there are two types of screws, the rounded head are covered by that faceplate. Those obviously get installed first. Be sure to screw them down tightly or they will bow out the faceplate when tightening the outer screws.
Hope this helps, going off memory....
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