Hi Maine Sail - and thanks for all your contributions to this site - they have helped me tremendously.So now to the question of boat preparation and waxing/polishing.I have read your posts and this year I have used your techniques on my O'Day 23 - but only by hand since I do not have a polisher - Plush my last experience with an MGB and a polisher was not a good one - so its by hand for me right nown.The resutls are excellent ..... but what steps do you recommend next spring when I start to get the boat ready and the wax is still beading the water? I have used Collonite for the last few years and it is a great product - do I need to strip the wax before polishing? If so whats the best way/product to do that?Hoping to splash next weekend if the $$$ generator (i.e. work) does not get in the way with bus travel etc.Thanks for your reply JamesBullocks Cove RI