i usually go all out atleast 3 times a season... beginning, middle, and end.... ill use a compound and a wheel to buff imperfections out then some clay bar... give it a paint cleaning and restore on the hull and body with the buffer.. then use some car wax.. then throw a coat of marine wax on.. for the plastic pieces ill use a few different cleaners.. anywhere from mr.clean magic erasers... to back to black... to simple green...
it really depends on what im cleaning and how dirty it is..
oh i forgot to mention.. pick up an eraser wheel from amazon or somewhere online.. it really helps to get off a bunch of things from buffing scratches to removing glue left from old decals..