I used that 3M cleaner wax and the surface of my outside hull gelcoat feels like butter baby. you can literally see your reflection in the hull. you can see the trailer in the boat hull.
I never used the polymer polishes but I know if you get a orbital buffer going to fast with any wax/polish you can probably burn through the gel coat like you can burn through clear coat on a car. I use an orbital buffer but only one below 3000rpms.
I think I am going to give meguires flagship cleaner wax a go.
i would put the outside of my hull up against ALMOST any 1997 hull out there for smoothness right now. everyone that has come to look at it thinks the Boat is only a few years old at most. When I say the year they don't believe it.
Sometimes old school methods take more time, but anything that takes time is usually worth it. I ROLL OLDSCHOOL LOL Hard work pays off.