Gel Coat - A "Greener" Choice?

[Cathy P.]

I keep hearing "gel coat" to my horror. I once tried to use some of that on one of our stick-built and its odor was overwhelming and gave me a headache. I threw it out. So, is there a "greener" choice. Also, I guess I would need to use it inside the trailer to keep that shine and is that the "new" smell that people speak of related to fiberglass rvs? This is like my final hurdle in making a decision how doable the small trailer is. Thanks.

[Donna D.]

Cathy, gel coat isn't (typically) something you apply after a trailer has been manufactured... it's not like a wax. You might use it to recover from damage. Gel coat is sprayed into a mold the fiberglass is applied over that... it's actually what's between the mold and the release to get it out. It's the final finish of the molded fiberglass trailers.

Or, I'm confused about what you're asking.

[Cathy P.]

Donna D., I think I'm confused about what I am asking. I thought the gel coat was a final coating on the trailer that made it shine and that you would have to apply a gel coat to it when the finish became dull but it must be another compound that brings back the shine. Kind of along the same lines of the Airstream (can I say that word here), the stuff that makes it shine for those dedicated enough to keep theirs in top shape. So, I don't really understand fiberglass.

[Donna D.]

Well, I suppose you could add more gel coat... how about a good marine wax or Red Max or Gel Gloss or Poly Glo... is that what you're thinking? I've owned my trailer for 10 years and have never added gel coat to any part of it... think of your tug... you wax that don't you? Same thing applies to molded trailers.

[Cathy P.]

Gel Gloss! That's it! I guess I need to read less of the threads "Chat" and "Classified" and more on "Care and Feeding". I just got this obsession that I would have a continuous smell of "Gel Gloss". I shun chemicals whenever possible but that has become much easier than it used to be, thankfully. Thank you, Donna D.