I see people struggling in the boatyard with buffers. I find their problem isn't the tool so much as where they work from. Usually they work from the ground, sometimes a step ladder, but usually their tool is too high.
If I was going to buff my topsides, I'd hold the buffer at the most comfortable working height - standing on the ground, and measure the distance from the tool to the ground. I'd use that number to devise the height of a simple staging that would place my hands and tool in the middle of the work area on the topsides.
It may look like a lot of work but it's not in comparison to holding a heavy tool over your head, or shifting block and tackle counterweight arrangements around.
The last time I rolled and tipped the topsides of my 38'er, friends buffed the hull of a 24 sailboat. They spent two short days (couldn't take anymore pain!) going around the hull with no more than a rickety step ladder. My daughter and I rolled and tipped the 38' in 4, easy hours.
You wouldn't need this length of staging to buff a hull, but I might do it anyway as it's easier to set up a full area as opposed to setting and re-setting short sections.
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Move your staging from one side to the other as needed (BTW, that's the 24'er next door).
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