a few tips..........
tape off as close to the "gouge" as possible as a precaution.
clean out said gouge with a q-tip and some acetone - use the acetone SPARINGLY!! all you want to do is remove any traces of oils/muck
using a q-tip again, sparingly apply a light coat in the gouge making sure to fill all the little nooks and crannies - don't try to fill it!
let it sit until its tacky - THEN fill it in - once filled remove the tape! ( I know trust me )
put a few pieces of tape at the end of the gouge (runout when drawing the filler), take a flat bendable something - a playing card worked best for me - draw it with the gouge (if its a line gouge go with the scratch) NOT across it if possible BUT if its on a curve go WITH the curve applying enough pressure that the card assumes the natural plane of the surface - this will level it off to a decent degree and adopt the natural line of where the gouge is at (whichever way your running the card put tape at the end so you don't smear on undamaged areas and having to sand it excessively)
(playing card tip - hold it long ways, put it on your boat at a 45 degree angle, press it into your boat until its rounded out and the edge in contact is flat. it doesn't take a huge amount of pressure)
any over spill, wipe immediately
let it cure completely. you WILL see discoloration, at first. just because its hard doesn't mean its cured. as noted, this will fade in time.
once cured, take some **800 grit wet/dry sand paper and a foam rubber sanding block; get after it using plenty of water - the area are will turn white and chaulky, no worries, you want that. once you are satisfied with the shape, take some 1000 grit, wet sand until you cant see sand lines (it sucks but like anything, more effort here means better result at the end). now you should have a mirror-silky smooth to the touch finish that's hazy. time for some compound, then some polish, then wax.
backyard mechanic tip!!!!!! 3M makes a kit for restoring headlights. It has 3 levels of grit sand paper on 2in circular disks, a drill adaptor with foam attachment, compound wheel and polish. Works like a champ for small wickers you want to fix. pro tip, do NOT run your drill wide open, run it as slow as possible and always keep things wet while sanding and compounding.
Spectrum color
That's a first!
