Thanks, GM...I appreciate your comments, and if I ever do this again i'll have a bunch of lessons learned. Since I intend to give this boat away in a few years, i think I'll just roll with it for now. I can certainly sand that gelcoat back off if I decide to get after it next winter...would really be just the same as if I did it today.
Thanks again to WOG and the whole community here. I'm amazed that I got it done and even more amazed that I had the stones to start the project at all! Taking a grinder to your boat is not a normal act the first time you do it! It was reading all the threads on here, especially WOG's input, that made me dare to try it. i belong to many online forums, and this is without doubt the best community...suffice to say that this ain't Bloody Decks by a long shot!