WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?

Q :Dear Boat Doctor, heading home after a morning of water-skiing, I had to dodge a large floating tree. Next, the boat abruptly slowed down. I throttled down, shifted into neutral and looked aft: We had left the ski rope in the water, and it snagged the submerged tree. In the process, the gelcoat all around the ski-tow eye cracked. The fiberglass seems fine, but the whole area looks like crap. Right in the center of my transom!

John Aikers Knoxville, Tennessee

A:First, remove the ski-tow eye to make sure it is not deformed or bent. If it is damaged, discard it. Replacements for most styles are readily available.

As to the fiberglass: Gelcoat repairs are within the DIY realm, but they require a particular touch or feel. Also, color matching can be trying. That said, you would basically grind away all the cracked area, plus about 20 percent more. You’ll then fill that back to level with layers of resin, glass, and perhaps putty or filler, depending upon how deep you have to grind to get rid of the cracks. Then you’ll apply gelcoat or paint to match. Detailed

instructions from our own Jim Hendricks are available at boatingmag.com/how-to-repairdamaged-gelcoat.

Now, let me say there is another way. Provided the cracks are only in the gel and the underlying fiberglass laminate is intact—besides actual cracks, look for strands of glass and white spots, which indicate broken glass strands—you could cover the damaged area with a decorative plate. Perhaps use stainless steel, Polyboard or acrylic. Such a plate can be attractive when cut to a nice shape with beveled edges. Just make sure it’s not so thick as to interfere with reinstalling the ski tow.