What happens on mine more typically is that the back corner rides up and down on the edge of the dock in boat wakes as people are getting aboard, dislodging the rubber insert from the aluminum base. To fix that I first insert the lower edge of the rubber, which can't be seen from inside the boat, into the lower edge of the slot, then take a wide blade screwdriver or something similar (even a large coin, like a quarter) and press the upper edge of the rubber into the slot, working my way down until everything is back in place.
As for the sharp dings in the aluminum base, yes, just file them smooth for safety. As long as you have the rubber inserted securely you're fine. If the base got banged up so far out of shape that it won't hold the rubber in place, that's another story.
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