: Sounds like a good location. Put a rib in which goes across both
: sides. The right side may not be showing problems yet, but it
: gets the same pressure as the left side. So bracing it with a
: rib will prevent future problems.

How long should this rib be? Will it need to go from bulkhead to bulkhead like you were explaining to the person in the original post? I am leaning towards the pipe foam you detailed in your original suggestions.

: No. Get a hair dryer or a heat gun and get the area hot. Sometimes
: heat will relax a ding in fiberglass and it will just 'pop' out.
: You don't want it so hot that it melts or burns, but with gentle
: heating an d a gentle prod you might get the boat bach into the
: original shape.

This kayak has just been sitting around waiting to be fixed and I have noticed the dent seems less pronounced and the hull is less willing to pop in/out like it was when I was using it everyday. So hopefully I will have some luck with the heating approach.

: You'll need to do some filling and sanding when you fix the
: gelcoat. If you don't get the shape corrected first, and install
: the rib, then you'll be trying to fill the depression with
: gelcoat. That won't look right when the new rib pushes it out
: later.

Would it make sense to leave the gelcoat be and let things settle after installing the rib then fix the gelcoat?

: Put a drop of 'crazy glue' or 'super glue' (cyanoacrylate) on each
: crack. Get the original watery stuff not the newer 'gel' or 'gap
: filling' versions. If you are lucky then capillary action will
: draw this thin glue into the cracks and keep them from
: spreading. If it works you'll see the cracks disappear almost
: instantly. That glue is not extremely water resistant, so wait a
: day for it to cure well and then seal the area with a light coat
: of quick setting epoxy. Those twin-tube epoxy packs have more
: than you need. Mix up a small amount and cover the glued cracks.

Sounds simple enough.

: Does your internet provider give you some personal web space? Most
: do. Post your pictures there and then include the URL of the
: picture with your posts.

I go through my phones data network (or ::cough:: while at work ::cough::) so I don't think I get a page.

Thanks for all the advice.