I've buffed my boat using 3m products for the last 3 seasons. (Super Duty Rubbing Compound -> Finesse-It II -> Marine Wax.) It lives outside and it's red above the rub-rail.... it always looks just as bad by the end of the season as it did before all the buffing work. I keep up on the wax applications but I think it just gets baked by the sun non-stop and so it never stays looking nice.
Not my boat, but my red looks like this every spring:
http://www.shareaproject.com/fullImages/48.jpg
I probably spend 30-40 hours every spring on this buffing process. What a pain!!
I think I've solved part of the problem as I purchased a new cover that will protect it from the sun. My thinking is that this will cut down it's sun exposure by at least 80% and will help it maintain it's finish.
But... first I need to get it back to shiny! Will the buffing/rubbing compound work and last better if I start with a wet-sand this time? Does anyone have any advice of what grit I should start with and what products I should follow up with? I'm really only interested in first-hand reports when you've dealt with a boat this faded. Telling me that you use XXXX product on your 2011 Wakesetter doesn't really help.