Recommend a polishing machine

[Ex-SolentBoy]

The OP was talking about the cabin top and sides. If it's anything like mine, that consists of small strips of shiny gelcoat interspersed with lots of non-slip. Like a previous poster, I find that a modified mouse sander is by far the easiest tool for compounding/polishing. 'Modified' means tying a sponge/rag over the sanding face. A two handed polisher is way over the top for these small areas, leaving spots of compound polish sprayed all over the non-slip.

Spot on, lots of small areas between non slip. I have a couple of mouse sanders and never thought of modding them.

I really don't want lots of spatter. The surface is only mildly oxidised and hand rubbing would get rid of it. I am just lazy.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Has anyone tried a 12v one, like the one from Halfords?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_188980_langId_-1_categoryId_165640

I've got one; for a 31' boat, it works fine. Only snag is that the lead isn't all that long; when on shore, I usually have to park the car on each quarter successively to polish the hull! You'd have to rig up some sort of extension to use it on boat power; there is no way you'd reach the entire hull from the cigar lighter socket at the chart-table.

This is light enough (just) to use one-handed; useful when you're hanging off a ladder!

You don't NEED a lot of power; polishing too fast can harm the gel-coat. I usually put the polish on by hand, then use this to polish it off. As I say, it works fine.