was thinking about stripping the wax from the hull and topsides and
applying a new coat of wax next year. What equipment, process and
products
would you recommend for this task?

Well there are several marine wax removers you can buy and some folks
buy acetones and laquer thinners and the like to get their hulls
prepped. The condition of your hull is a factor. Is it painted? If so I
can't advise you properly. 3M makes a range of good wax/polish
compounds that work great. Some are more aggressive for older hulls.
Since they are also compound they are single step, you really don't
have to remove the old wax as it's ground away. You'll need a damp rag
to remove the residue as you work. It's also best to test to see if you
can get by with a less aggressive level and save more gel coat
thickness. Remember how thin that coat is! Believe it or not (and some
folks here have no clue) but many yards use medium sized grinders
fitted with 3M buffing wheels to wax and polish. They get the job done
fast, BUT they can also damage a hull and it's a BACKBREAKING job to
hold the grinder up compared to lighter dedicated polishers. Still, if
you take care and focus on the job, you'll go a lot faster with a
grinder. I've been told that some grinders are too fast, but the black
& decker models we use do a good job. This sort of project really does
vary boat to boat and some folks still will take the time to hand rub
compound into their hull. Bully for them, but too tedious for me. I
have to say that wax/polish is about the worst job there is. I now let
my yard do it for me with excellent results that last the whole season.
A waxed boat is slower! About a zillion people have a gazillion ideas
on how to best wax a boat...and most seem to work equally well.

RB