So, never called Somers Point - I hooked up a 2gallon external can to the motor.. (actually, I hooked up through the water separator housing first) So, primed the motor with the new gas - water did come out through the VST - but once I saw gas.. I closed off the VST - turned the key and the alarm went off again. Water in the line somewhere.
Checked the in-line fuel filer.. water in there - checked the water separator... I had filled it with clean gas when I placed it back onto the housing, so that was okay. Went back to the VST, primed and pumped... more water came out.. just kept at it until, priming and pumping.. finally I was sure it was all gas. Turned the key, no alarm!
Now, cranked the motor.. wouldn't start or a very hard time starting. A lot of rough starting and stalling. No alarms though, no lights. Finally, got it to start.. it ran very rough at first.. then smoothed out. Shut it down. Waited a few minutes. Started up again with no issue. Repeated and consistent result. So, I think the motor is okay now.. that rough start did (and still does kind of concern me but all things considered I guess it makes sense). But I am wondering if I should still have the marina take a look at it.
Good news, I dropped the lower unit oil and that looks normal. No water in my lower unit!
As far the water issue in the fuel lines, while I was messing with the water separator, could that have let the water into the gas tank if the housing was submerged in water? I plan to change all those fuel lines since I am certain that those lines were also sitting in a pool of water in the back bilge area.