I am guessing that there will be some wood strips, but if so they may not be in very good condition – hence the epoxy suggestion.
The main purpose of the sealant is to keep water from ingressing the screw hole into the GRP laminate as well as a wood strip.
It’s good practice to have a lanyard particularly on the aft hatch – GRP does not float.
It is important that the catches are secure – if the hatch comes loose during a capsize the aft tank will flood and the boat will be impossible to recover.