Gelcoat Cracks Along Gunnels

[Max_Florida]

This pic is a bad example but it was the only one I took for some reason. I have cracks similar to this around every screw hole all along the gunnels.

For the cracks in the pic I was thinking I would have to grind the area down and put in some fiberglass.

For the other cracks that aren't so close together I was planning on grinding each one out with a dremel and filling with epoxy-filler.

I plan on painting the boat eventually(after I re-do the transom this winter) so I'm not worried about cosmetics right now, just functionality/durability.

What do you guys think?



The holes were where the port side stern cleat was mounted on top of a piece of thin wood.