Hi. I have had a few like this and have done the repairs myself. Personally, I am not a fan of Knead-it so I got some epoxy resin and cloth to do the job properly. The important part is to prevent all entry of water. I think this is a real possibility even though the bruise is not great. Learning how to do repairs is handy because the potential for damage is there each time we sail. Good luck.
You will need to sand it back otherwise the epoxy will not set to the surface , it will later pop off . Sanding the area gives a rough surface which enables the expoxy to bind or grip to the surface you are repairing
"Knead it" is good for a temporary fix like if you want to keep sailing the same day. I always keep a bit of it in a tin foil to protect it from the heat in my bag. And some sand paper as well.
Regarding that damage, I reckon you should be able to do it yourself as said previously since it is not a structurally important part (just has to be watertight and pretty).
I went to Bias Boating got an Epoxy Repair kit and had a crack myself. Watch a bit of youtube, do it in the open, take your time. Buy a medicine cup to help measure the epoxy correctly and some wet and dry sandpaper for after. Back yourself in, I'm not that handy but mine turned out ok. Agree with the others don't let water get in. Cheers Jason
