Originally posted by Don Shillady
........anytime I cut or drill the 'glass I need to tape over the spot first to prevent chipping, right?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder
It might help on the gelcoat side, but do nothing for the "raw" side. But in reality you're going to do some patching after the cut, so you're going to have to feather back the gelcoat to get your patch to bond.