There are two types of gel coat, general purpose and tooling. General purpose is more flexible and is used on things that vibrate and flex, such as boats. Tooling gel coat is much harder and scratch resistant, and is used on items such as tubs and showers.
Gel coat generally comes in white or gray, which can be tinted with paste to match almost any color.
Gel coat requires a catalyst, which is methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, and which comes with the gel coat in a clear liquid. Catalyst is added at 1 to 2 percent of the total gel coat; the more you use the faster it will harden.
Gel coat can be brushed or rolled on. But the only way to get a smooth professional finish is to spray the gel coat on with a gel coat spray gun. Gel coat can't be sprayed from a regular spray gun due to its thick consistency.
To prolong the life of your gel coat, regularly apply fresh coats of boat wax and buff it in. This seals the gel coat and protects it. It will also keep the finish looking good.
