Can't cut and polish?

 You sure it needs new gel coat? Wet sand and 3 stage polish would have it looking like new unless it is damaged in some way. Unlike cars, Gelcoat is usually 10 to 12mm thick and can cope with many renewals.

professionally cut and polished. Cost about $1,200.00. Took him about 4 days and it  was well worth every cent.

It now looks like a new one.

 good link for you

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=117266

Plenty more out there if you have a look. 

We had some gel coat repairs done by an old site sponsor Cobalt Blue Marine and I'd recommend them. Great service and a hell of a lot cheaper than we expected.  It was a few years ago now so I can't remember the details but I do remember the good service.

http://www.cobaltbluemarine.com.au/

 You should be able to cut and polish no probs,  you will find the gell will be about 5 mm thick max on hull sides and cabin should be 2 done in days max i can do a Caribbean 35 in 2 days flat 20 hours for $1350 gunnel to top of bridge and do a 21- 23 trailer boat in 1 day price varied on the amout of surface area and condition of gelcoat , i no longer do this for a living so cant help you with the job.

Depending on the quality of cut used it shouldnt have to be wet and dryed. A quality cut and polish then wax to seal the finish, wax every 2 months to keep up the lusture wash only with a wax and wash product and chamois straight away to prevent ringlets building up on the surface.

cheers Nick

 Cheers boys I'll let u know how it turns out

Alternatively, treat it like a fishing boat and spend the $1200 on a nice jigging outfit.

           Check this -- have seen a couple of his jobs - come up like a new boat

   http://www.completedetail.com.au/Complete_Detail.html

   www.facebook.com/pages/Complete-Detail/1394244780881814?fref=ts

 Haha very tru johno but the old girl needs some tlc every once in a while, seeing as she gets me to the fish

Mate, I am hearing ya! My 235 is looking a bit faded, and have been procrastinating the cut and polish......need to do it though, for $1200, or $2000 before you pay tax, gotta be worth having a crack yourself. I did my old mans 36 Rivierra......half way through I wanted to shoot myself, but came up ok.

 Thinking of doing my Reefie too - haven't been brave enough  for the pain that comes with it yet. Any recommendations on the best product(s) to use for the cut and then polish?

 Great topic .. Being a painter and detailer and fibre glassing.I reguraly do these jobs Insydney. Before you cut you should give a small flat area .A buff first if not happy then cut with 120-1500 depending on color.  When ready to buff tape up all plastics and rubber as polish is hard to get of once dry.  Buff machine should be variable speed have a few different pads  listed in order  wool, foam (3m products) then waffle pad. With these 3 pads you should be using a different grade of polish I use car products as they seem to give best results . When buffing make sure surface is always moist will insure no burn marks  happen incase you slip . Once finish look after it as stated by some of other guys

 mate take your time to do the job properly nothing like see a rushed buff job . Last 26 I buffed took 50 hours  inside and out and is still great after a year it was a blue

gel coat and ended up brand new . I am a extremely fussy Painter  and used to spend 5 hours buffing a black bonnets ok car.  How info helps

 Stay away from cheap polish compounds that are full of silicone, Septone is one product along with a few others that are absolute rubbish. As Mowong said with sound advice  good car polishes will work, i won't  give you any product names for what i use as i have had to do a lot of time perfecting my technique time is money they say.