Gel coat spider cracks

All,

I've been spending quite a bit of time working on getting my new to me 97 SN in tip top shape mechanically and cosmetically this winter before the 2018 season. I've got a long list of projects, and debating on taking one off of the list. Last fall I found 2 spider cracks that are on the front corners of the strut mount, likely emanating from the screws. I'd planned to grind them out and patch them up, but starting to wonder if it's worth the work. I've attached pictures of what they look like. There's 0 evidence on the inside of any cracking. I'm wondering if it could have been when I (in a hurry and being an idiot) used a piece of wood braced against the strut to tighten a prop nut to get to the next hold for the cotter pin.
A few questions for the group.
1) Is it worth grinding them out and fixing them?
2) If I go ahead with it, will I have to pull the strut off to get to the root of the crack so it doesn't just happen again? I've been avoiding doing that, so I don't have to realign it (I am going to pull the shaft to replace the cutlass though).