rsfavor said:
Should I let first coat of paint cure before putting on the second coat? Or just let the finished product cure?
It would be advisable to do the 1st coat and let it cure before doing the 2nd one , Haste makes waste. Worse yet it just makes a real mess if you rush things and then you have to remove everything and start all over again.
Best to not be in a hurry.
If you are in a hurry then do the one , let it cure , use the boat and when you are happy with the results and have some time , sand it ( lightly ) and do the other coat.
When I make a boat , I let the epoxy cure for a week or two , sometimes longer , even up to 30 days. Then use the boat to see how it does ....... When I have some down time , it is cleaned , sanded and the varnish is put on the boat. That way all the scratches and dirt is removed. ........ In your case the 2nd coat of paint.
It's just a suggestion , what you decide to do is your choice since you have the boat there to look at and check out the progress.