Hi, I don’t know much when it comes to kayak maintenance, so I don’t know how bad this is, or how urgent its repair is. What sort of repair would this require? Is it something I can do myself? Or should I get a professional to do it.
Thanks
I'd say (from my couch without seeing it in person) that its mostly cosmetic. Fibreglass (or perhaps carbon in your case?) is transparent, it is glass after all. You've worn off the gelcoat which is a top coat that protects the glass and makes it look like a sweet shiny thing. You haven't effected the structure but you have removed the protection. That's mostly a concern for something that sits in the water all the time. Water can ingress into the glass fibres.
Its worth getting repaired but probably not urgent. It's possible to do yourself but probably not advisable unless you have the experience and tools. If you're not looking for a perfect repair you could buy some 2 part epoxy paint and slap it on.