There is no fear of damaging it but you do have to worry you sand so much that you got through it and start getting to the fiberglass. Hard to tell by your description just how deep they are but if your sure you can still see white gelcoat in the bottom of the scratches you could try sanding them all the way out and then compounding like you said.
__________________
1986 V-20
1986 Yamaha 150 HP
|