jakswhaler wrote:Q1: can I still use my boat [before the damage is repaired]?.
I would not use the boat until you make a temporary repair. Phil has described a temporary repair method. I would not double the tape over at the ends as Phil suggested; the pressure of the water could tear away the tape
jakswhaler wrote:Q2: should I leave the boat out of the water until fixed?.
I would not leave the boat in the water for an extended period of time with just the temporary repairs
jakswhaler wrote:Q3: will water will get in behind the gel coat?
Yes. If there is no gel coat layer in the area of damage, then the underlying laminate will be exposed to water.
jakswhaler wrote:A dealer told me that even though the gel coat has been compromised in a 4-inch by 4-inch area and the fiberglass is visible, the way the Boston Whaler is constructed water can't get behind the gel coat and I can continue using the boat.
If there is no gel coat layer left to protect the laminate, then water will have access to the laminate. If the damage is in an area of the hull's running surface when the boat is on plane, the water flow will exert pressure on the hull. This increases the chances of de-lamination occurring.
jakswhaler wrote:Q4: will I cause more damage by using the boat?
Use of the boat without any repairs will increase the chance for further damage to the hull from ingress of water into the laminate and possible de-lamination.
jakswhaler wrote:Q5: should just keep the boat out of the water until the damage is fixed.
Keeping the boat out of the water will be be most prudent action to prevent further damage to the hull structure.
If you want to continue to use the boat, you should make, at the least, a temporary repair. The simplest repair will be to cover the damages areas with a tape with strong adhesive properties. A high-quality duct tape with some water-resistance could be used. Any tape that is applied onto the running surface of the hull is subject to considerable pressure from the water when the boat is being operated at speed. I certainly would not leave the boat in the water for any lengthy period of time if all the areas of damage are going to be immersed in the water. That is just an invitation for water ingress into the laminate.
The largest area of damage you describe as being 4-inches by 4-inches is particularly concerning. That such a large area should break away due to an impact of something against the hull and its somewhat regular shape suggests to me that there might have already been some de-lamination or at the least a poor bond between the gel coat layer and the underlying laminate layer. This would represent a defect in the construction of the hull. For this reason, I would immediately take the boat to the Boston Whaler dealer for assessment of this damage, before you put the boat back in the water and use it. If the damaged area is a result of a poor bond in construction, then the hull repair may be covered under the warranty. The other areas of damage are more clearly the result of puncture or abrasion against the hull surface, and would not expect there to be any chance to have them repaired under warranty. The larger and almost square area of damage is quite different. It should be assess by the dealer with an eye to possibly being due to a defect in the laminating of the hull.
Since this is a new boat, you need to have the hull repairs done by the dealer so that the 10-year-hull warranty will remain in effect. If the hull is improperly repaired by someone other than the Boston Whaler dealer, there could be later problems with the hull warranty. For a new boat with most of the 10-year-hull warranty remaining, you should not take any action that could later be claimed as terminating the hull warranty due to faulty repair.