: . . .It must
: have been a bad omen when I did that. A few weeks later, the car
: I tried to drive over the pieces with was totalled on my way to
: work. . .

Well, there is your new story: "Car hits boat pieces, car is totaled. Musst be very strong aura coming from boat." The facts are essentially linked, but you are just "stretching " things a bit in the time frame. No real need to mention the time that elapsed between these events, is there?

By the way. I think this is natures way of telling you that bad things will happen if you don't get to working on that boat. Next you'll probably be dropping the eggs, stepping on the dog's tail, or get snowed in with your cable service out.

I think the easiest way to repair that damage right now is to get a sharp utility knife and a straight edge.

Lay the damaged panel on a scrap board. Bad side up Gently score 2 straight lines outside of the damage and make a "V" shape. With very light pressure, go over the score line to form a thin groove. that will keep the knife point in line as you go over the line for about a dozen light strokes, eventually cutting through. If you press the knife it may slip out and cut you, or it will create splinters on the inside as the cut comes through. So don't press. let the repetitive light slicing action of the kinife do the work. More slicing strokes, less pressure, and you'll have 2 beautiful neat cuts and a triangular piece.

Take the triangular piece, which has all the damage on it, and cut inside the damage, keeping your cut lines parallel to the edge. Same light scoring and gentle repetitive slicing to remove the two damaged edges. As long as you keep these cuts parallel to the first edge, your new triangle will drop back into the space it was cut from. Use some white glue on the edges, or a few drops of 5 minute epoxy or Super glue applied from the inside, clamp with a couple of office supply bulldog-type spring clamps and let the glue harden. If the white glue squeezes out, let it harden then cut it off with a scraper, or sand it gently. If the super glue or epoxy bleed throught o the front they may stain (darken) the surrounding area, which would attract attention to a spot which will otherwise disappear. The top edge of area where you patched will end up lower than the edge of your panel. That is OK for now. Wire the boat together and fill that area with a patch of scrap wood.

Depending on where this damage happened, you may cover the patch with a maker's plaque, Hull Identification Number, a design, or put in a deck fitting for holding your spare paddle, fishing pole, or deck lines. If you are putting in a bilge pump, this might be a good area for the exhaust pipe. Wait on the final fix until you see what your options may be.

Illustration below exagerates the damaged area. You just have to cut back to where the wood appears OK on the outside. Maybe 1/4" to 3/8". It doesn't matter what it looks like on the inside. No one will see that area, and the glass and fillet in that area will give it all the strength it needs.

Hope this helps.

PGJ