Wash and wax

[PCUK]

Talking of Autoglym. If anyone isn't aware, you can buy their trade products which are a fraction of the price of the retail. As long as you buy the trade sizes (which aren't particularly large) there's no problem. They'll even come to marina and deliver the stuff.

 

[johnpye]

A few suggestions:
The hardest and most long-lasting wax is carnauba wax. If you really want the best finish, you can't beat it. It sheds dirt like a PTFE wax, but the big plus is that repeated applications build a thicker and more lustrous shine. Just make sure you get something formulated for marine use, not a thin car wax.

Waxes, especially carnauba, can fill the microscopic roughness that makes a surface look dull, but the best way is to polish the surface first with a fine pre-wax cleaner and polish. Unless you have actual scratches it's best to avoid cutting compounds, as they remove more gel coat than necessary.

If you use a good orbital polisher it cuts the time for polishing and buffing without danger of overheating and leaving comet tails that you can get with a rotary machine.

Yes I have an interest to declare. We sell waxes, glazes and machines, but there's loads of practical advice, comparisons and and background information on our web site.