I keep on chipping of a wee bit of the bow of my winder merlin at the tip ,the gel coat i use just chips of too easily what else can you use thats more durable

Epoxy stiffened with microfibres and colloidal silica. Mind you don't get your fur matted when applying it though!

Stop hitting things and be more carefull, less chasing cats!

will wear dog mitts to do it

that bit sailing out of batsons is a nightmare  no place for a dog   time for a lifting rudder methinks

or be sociable and stay at mill bay

Megan,

You should stop using those red and white poles in the creek - they are there to warn humans to keep clear of the edge of the mud and shouldn't be sniffed around, especially at low tide: think of all those muddy paw prints all over the nice new spinny!

You could always use the same technique as the Fireflies do at our club. They're Universtiy owned boats and they have shaped bow fenders fitted (permanently).

I just hope they drive better than they sail...

Gel coat is brittle - unfortunately - so it does tend to flake on minor impacts. I think you may be able to use epoxy (mixed with suitable pigment).
Note:- Epoxy resin uses an oxidising hardner - gel coat uses a reducing hardner (chemistry at work!). Make sure that an epoxy layer is fully cured and washed before putting gel coat on top - it the epoxy isn't hard cured, then the gel coat will never set!

Colin (M/R 3387 -wood - Solo 3400 -grp)

Could be that you're trying to repair too small a patch. Make sure that the surroundng area is properly keyed (240 grit minimum) and re-gel a larger area.

Gel is like a very goopy paint. If you put it on a shiny surface it will just chip or flake off at the merest provocation.