Buff it with what? I assume you mean polish and then don't wax.
I thought i read varnish develops a thin protective surface layer as it dries
and if you polish that off it will degrade faster.

I really just want to keep that clean shiny look longer on the sides and deck.

: Hi Mike and Patrick,
: Waxing a kayak doesn't give any hydrodymanic advantages you could use or
: notice, it will on a surfboard, they're generally going a heck of a lot
: faster than kayaks. Surfers only wax the top of the board, which is
: telling.

: The ultra-slick surface will have all the disadvantages Rob mentioned.

: Wax on a car gets stripped off when the paint is knocked back to undercoat.
: Some shops strip down to bare metal.

: If it's for show shine, you could go the route of buffing the varnish instead
: of waxing. It would bead water just like wax but is easier to hold onto
: when wet.

: Mike Savage
: South West Cork