Thanks to Frank, Ker, and Eric for the comments. Frank, I can imagine your sinking feeling when that paint bubbled and you realized you were screwed despite your efforts and plans. Please keep them coming--I'm pretty optimistic about being able to ultimately resolve the issue, just a matter of deciding what direction to take:
1. DIY---spend several days at it with maybe a 50% possibility of having to repaint the tank. The good thing is that it's a solid color.
View attachment 38477 Then choose to re-line the tank or not.
2. Send it to FL or CA and have it professionally redone-- cost of $350-500.
Basically it looks like a wash to me, so I will most probably look at sending it to a professional.
And certainly Frank is absolutely correct to fault the dipshits who were responsible for the poor quality of liners used during the entire life of the company. That contractor must have been married to a Coleman....