Re: polishing an older boat???
NacViper,
That's a very touchy subject but I'll drop in my 2 cents. I would NOT use vaseline. Yes it will bring a sihne back but it will not cure the root problem, oxidized gelcoat. All it does is mask it. The only real way to bring it back is wet sand, rubbing compound, polishing compound then wax. Here are a before and after of what I did on my 1960 Wagemaker Clipper.

I started with 400 wet/dry but if I were you try 800 or 1000 to start. I went 400/800/1000/1500/2000 then rubbing then polishing. I used the 10" Harbor Freight waxing/polishing buffer. It was cheap. If I had to do it again, I would have bought the 6".
Yes it is work but I won't have to do it again, just wax it, which you should do anyway.
Just my opinion.
Bob