Need to drill some holes thru the gelcoat. Is the drill bit point angle important? I'm wanting to decrease the chipping as much as I can.

Thx!

Run the drill backwards for the first 1/16"

If you are drilling all the way through start with a small drill and then step up to the bigger but drilling in from each side (again running it backwards to start). This will stop the blow out from drilling all the way through from one side.

↑↑↑↑↑ what he sead the angle is not that important unless you want the hole to be that way.

The backwards start works really nice for hole saws too... you want a nice good drill bit too, not an old wobbely beat to hell dull piece of junk and a little masking tape on the surface doesn;t hurt...

I am drilling thru my transom. If I read this right, your saying to drill from outside AND from inside the boat?
Would I run the small bit all the way through from the outside, then drill with the larger bit half-way through from both sides?

Never mind

Friend, you need to use a BRAD POINT DRILL BIT to eliminate gel coat chipping.

And be sure to use blue painter's tape and tape off the entire area of the hole to be drilled. I was so scarred to drill the 3" hole in my boat to mount the transom stereo remote, but following the tips above along with the tape, absolute perfect job with no splintering, chipping, cracking, etc. <Measure twice, drill once!>

Yeah what Comanche3Six said with the brad point and what imartin said with the tape!! Start it in reverse to score the gel surface and break through then go forward to drill the hole and you will be good to go. Always peel the tape TOWARDS the hole in-case there are any chips starting on the edge so you don't pull on them and you should have nice clean holes.

Yes