Hey Jake,
I used Bondo for years but I don't any more. If you are working in polyester bondo is great. I've had it swell in older repairs and most likely only visible to the discerning eye. But until I go blind I always look at the side angle - bad habit.

I’m so happy with the West System that I’d never use Bondo again or do repairs in polyester.

Deck Plates are great they make repair work easy. I had problems with my Nacra 5.2 as it was fragile, and I must add abused and sailed very hard by a big man. It was the early years I went through a few deck plates, a bulkhead, and was holed by the heel of a hobie 16 sailor. It was the mid 70’s when hobies ruled and a new kid on the block - Vietnam era vet, with a new boat – radically different design blew the reigning salty dog away. The Nacra’s were bleeders, light, and wicked fast around the marks. I really loved that Nacra 5.2!

Once they knew I was not a flash in the pan I was told who holed my boat later in my first season and had the chance to blow by his stern flying a hull with my dagger board at de-cap level. He never saw me coming until I passed him. After the race on the shore he rushed me saying I could have hurt somebody acting all huffy to my 25 years younger and 6 month out of the military (not quite tame yet) I agreed with him smiled a evil grin and softly kick my boat where he had holed it earlier in the season. By the look on his face we had an immediate understanding and he fully understood my point - Very polite man after our understanding. Well that was my first boat repair job, totally uncalled for but look where it has lead. By the way I have never owned a hobie.

But this was the MidWest in the 70's and things were very home town, clickish, and there was a pecking order. I just didn't pay that game after being in the Navy SeaBees and had a role in making a change.