M_Boats: Rail bolts

I have a couple of questions for the group. I have the aluminum toe rail (I hope that is the correct terminology) on my M-17, and I was polishing the boat today in preparation for a trip to either San Carlos Mexico or Loreto Mexico. I was trying to clean up the anodized toe rail and did not have much luck with the regular polish I was using for the hull. What product should be used to shine it up? Second question: I noticed that the spacing between the SS bolts at the stern and the bow along the Hull to deck joint was about 3 inches, whereas toward the middle the spacing was reduced to about 2 to 2 1/2 inches. What is the reason for the change in spacing? Tom Woodworth M-17 #330 "Wild Hare"