Filling a gouge in gellcoat

[al40]

What's the best way to fill a scratch / shallow gouge in the gellcoat on my hull? Was out at the weekend and unfortunately the boat got moved from it's original posn (presumably by someone trying to get into their dingy) so it touched the bottom before I got to it and ended up sitting on some fairly rocky ground when tide went out. I'm guessing it must have surged back and forwards a bit as there is a gouge along the hull just above the keel.

So - how do I fill this? My experience of gellcoat filler is that's it very thin so would not be good to fill a gouge that's on an inverted 45 degree surface. I had thought about filling the crack then taping it with PVC tape then rubbing down the excess when dry but I'm probably more likely to make a mess than fill the gouge....

Any advice gratefully received!

Thanks,
Al

[Endeavour]

Thats the best way unless you have some aerosil or similar. Give it a good clean before you put the filler in though and don't use nail polish remover....

[GuyP]

I find these "How To" pages by Don Casey very useful

http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/02.htm

[al40]

Thanks. Info in the link is really useful!

Al