I spent about $30 on some different rubbing compounds intially. None of them really worked all that well. I also spent about $15 on a small buffer.

I had hesitated to wet sand it - had never done anything like that. That was the much cheaper (#3) and as it turned out - better option. I should have done that to start with. I also spent $12 or so on some polish to put on after and I just ordered some bass boat saver for about $16.