Check out this website: Boatworks Today
He has you tube videos too under the same name. All of his videos are very good!

 

If the gelcoat is white and in good shape, you might get an adequate match from the tin. Hi-Bond white gelcoat with wax is a perfect match for the white on my Bristol (when the existing gelcoat is clean and the oxide removed, that is!)

 

Mark, you realize that white is probably the hardest "color" match of any right? Since it encompasses everything from gray, to pink, to pale blue... Unless the OP owns a Bristol, in which I'll shut up (you know once you state brand of "tin" of gelcoat).

Otherwise, I'll state that minicraft of FL has a plethora of colors with corresponding gelcoat names for many brands of boats, power and sail. I was able to get a near dead wringer color match to my 1982 S2, when I repaired my port cockpit seat. My boat is "white" but decidedly NOT white to view (almost a gray/beige in tint... the color is Ermine White, which Minicraft can mix small batches of, and has on file for my age/vintage of WHITE from Tiara Yachts)...

Was looking for a picture that shows exactly what I mean, but I don't have any good daylight pictures.
Well the boat is dirty in this picture, but the port side IS where I repaired, but you cannot really tell where the fix starts and ends.

 

"Professional Gelcoat Repair Without a Mess" - John Gabriel DVD - www.boatrepairvideos.com

 

How minor a repair and what color. Email me a couple pictures and I will talk you thru it I am a retired shipwright do gel repairs as a side now days. Pm me for my email

 

Thanks for the offer Newhaul. After watching a few videos yesterday, and reading a bit, I mixed a batch of gelcoat. To end up with the correct off white I mixed an extremely small amount of yellow tint and even less black tint. Tint goes a long way...... I haven't buffed it out yet, but the color match is very close. Not expecting it to be perfect, but pretty close.... The biggest thing is it will be smooth and shiny, instead of a gouge.

 

The best you can ever hope to actually get is what is called the ten foot rule most people won't notice slight differences ten feet away glad to hear you got her done here's a little trick I use in finishing the area use a Mr clean magic eraser with water before waxing does wonders ( melamine foam is like 4000 grit buffing pad) .