I have a PC 7424 and Flex 3401. They are good machines for use on the cars, and very safe to use. But, I find them lacking on my 30' boat.
Because the boat stays in the water for the season, regular detailing or maintenance below the rub rails is impossible. I really only get the chance to give it a good work over in the spring, before it goes in the water.
This year I borrowed a friend's rotary. It is a very old and very heavy machine, but it did a good job of removing oxidation.
I don't feel comfortable enough with it to start using it on my C6, but the gelcoat on the boat is not nearly as fragile.
It has convinced me that it is time to buy a rotary and some wool pads.
I'm looking for a good machine that will do the job. The only thing is that when doing the boat I am using it mostly on vertical surfaces, most of which is above my shoulders. With that in mind, I'd like to stay with as light a machine as possible, because I'll be using it for many hours at a time.
But, I don't want to sacrifice performance for weight. It wouldn't make sense to spend the entire day polishing the boat, and not get good results. I'd really like to find something with a balance between weight and performance if that's possible.
Recommendations??
Thanks!

 

Metabo and Fein are great choices for lightweight, but you're going to pay for them. Otherwise, Makita, Flex, and Hitachi are choices.

 

http://www.autogeek.net/circular-polishers.html

Flex offers a nice rotary, and the Dewalts and Makitas are always popular and for good reason. No wrong choice.

 

I only used the Makita but I've never had any issues with it so probably won't be trying any other anytime soon.

Josh

 

With that many long vertical surfaces I'd go for a lightweight Flex L3403 VRG

 

I looked at the machines on the Geeks site and am sort of leaning towards this one. The Dewalt is out because of the weight, and although I sort of like the Makita, it isn't clear if you can use it with a little side handle.
I find the little side handle to be more comfortable to use for long periods of time on the big vertical surfaces of the boat. Although not pictured, I am hoping the Makita gives me this option.
I also liked the top end RPM of the Flex. I'm a little concerned about the relatively high low RPM setting. 1100 RPM might be a lot.
I'm just wondering if anyone that has used both the Flex 3403, and the Makita , and can comment on how they stack up against each other.
Weight is a big concern for me, but I don't want to sacrifice performance for a pound or two.
In the end, it takes many hours to go over the hull on the boat, much of which is tough because of the tall vertical surfaces when it's blocked up. I really would like to get the best results for my effort.
Choosing the machine that works best with wool pads is also important. I've found that foam pads with my Flex 3401 work great on my car, but the boat needs wool pads with a rotary.
Since I'd be mainly using the rotary with wool pads, would the Flex limit the size of the wool pads I'd be able to use more than the Makita?

 

http://www.autogeek.net/flex-l3403vr...-polisher.html

At Detalfest 2010 I had time to hold one of these units and impressed indeed. It actually felt lighter than my Hitachi Rotary which weighs the same. I think its less bulky in size which equates to a lighter feel. Lets just say I would love to "keep" one for full-time testing.

 

I own and use both regualary, they are my most frequently used rotaries.

If I could have only one it would be the Makita, hands down, but these are two totally difference machines. I use the miniFlex when I want to change it up or to manuver in tight areas, but the Makita is my workhorse.

The main reason would be that I find it more comfortable. The engine seems 'less strained' when it is working, where as the Flex is loud and high pitched. This isn't to say the miniFlex is weak, it is harder to bog down then the Makita (although if you are bogging either machine noticeably your probably using too much pressure!). The mini Flex will get hot after a while, and given the little handle, you may find yourself burning your finger tips frequently.

Some times I will just use the miniFlex and I really enjoy it. After a while I grab the Makita from the bag, plug it in, and fire it up... Every time I wonder why I put it away to begin with.

 

Thanks for the great insight!
I was hoping to get opinions like that from people who have used both.
The machine will be used primarily for the hull on the boat, and with wool pads. This will be my only rotary.
I find my Flex 3401 capable of doing everything I need done on the cars, so I don't see the need to chance using the rotary on them.
I think the Gel Coat needs the rotary and wool pad combination. It stays docked in the water throughout the season. Although I can get to it to wash it with an extender pole, waxing along the sides is out of the question. When the boat comes out of the water in the fall, it gets a good cleaning and then shrinkwrapped for the winter.
When I uncover it in the spring, the gel coat is in desperate need of some light oxidation removal and a good polish.
I've tried waxing before it gets covered for the winter, but it didn't really make a difference.
Up until now I've been borrowing my friends rotary that is nearly 40 years old. He owned a body shop back in the 70's and early 80's, and this machine was his workhorse. He now owns an auto repair shop, and still does some body work every once in a while for his customers. The machine does a great job, but it is big, bulky, and weighs a ton.
After using this monster to do the hull this spring my arms decided it might be time to get a more modern and lighter machine of my own.
I was leaning towards the Flex, but after reading your comments I'm now leaning towards the Makita.
It kind of looks like I'd be limited with the pad size on the Flex anyway. I think with all the area I have to cover on the boat every inch in diameter of the pad counts. I'm thinking that a 7" flexible backing plate and the 8 1/2" wool pads are the way to go. I think I read somewhere that the Flex shouldn't use pads that large.