thank you all for the replies.

1) i am building a collection of old boats, planning to start a youth sailing program on my small lake.
2) i think it was a riding mover, and pictures of the crack, while appearing fairly minor, it looks like a through both inner and outer glass layers deal.
3) i still get confused with the epoxy resin vs. whatever.
my experience as a kid building rc planes was with 5 minute 2 part epoxy you would infuse through fiberglass tape and spread over area to be reinforced (joining the two wing halves together). Now when i buy the cheapo (sorta) kit at west marine, its a two part epoxy with the one part a real little bottle, but I assume its similar stuff. However when i tried to repair an old coleman plastic canoe, it doesn't seen to stick longterm, despite good sanding.
So I am confused when Marsh Hawk says to use epoxy resin and glass, but then Jeremy says to glass the outer skin, then gelcoat, but not to use epoxy. If not epoxy, then what do I use for "glue" for the fiberglass tape.

thanx in advance for all your help for a relative newbie to boat repair.

Larry Ferber