Several months ago I noticed a crack in the deck of my MC 16.5.  The crack runs from the aft port corner of the coaming outboard about 2/3 of the way to the gun'l.  The crack also ran up the outside of the coaming at the corner.  I believe this resulted from tieing the bow and stern lines to tight when cartopping.  Anyway, after puting up with this for at least a year, I decided it was time for some repair.  I could feel the crack with my hand so I know it was thru the glass.

To effect the repair, I sanded the area down thru the varnish and applied two layers of 4oz glass extending about 3 - 4" fore and aft of the damage.  My hope was that this would not only strengthen the area but would also disguise the crack.  Strength I got, a disguise I did not.  The epoxy seemed to go right to the crack, darkening it so that is stands out even more.  I mixed the first layer of weave filler with wood flour in hopes of covering some of it, but it stayed very visable.  So, I have sanded it out so all is fair and have gone ahead with new varnish.  It is the way it will be for now, but it would be nice to do something better in the future.  Excessive sanding is out as I am on the brink of going thru the surface veneer of the deck.

Any ideas for future repairs would be appreciated.

Thanks, Paul