nitro nemasis;
It all really depends on what you want to spend, what you are doing with boat, (show boat, race boat) that will be raced hard???
The reason I say it this way, is this If you race, your going to get hit, your going to drop the starter on the deck, your going to slip with the wrench while loosening the shaft, so-on and so-on.
I have use rattle cans Aerosol paint for my base coats ($4.00 a can) and cleared with Imron, PPG, NAPA Auto parts Tech base paints.
When you get ready to apply your clear, your first couple of coats should be very light (dust coats) so it can adhear to the base coat, but not eat into it, let them get almost tack free them start to flood the 3rd and 4th coats to a good wet look.
This works well when you want to use flourecent colors, in your paint job just stop by the Home Depot, or Lowes, and buy Krylon flourecent colors and go to town.
Before you do this. call you local Auto paint supplier, and ask for pricing on there Flourecent colors?!?!?!?!?
Shoot, years ago, I painted a 1/8th scale hydro with Benjaman Moore Impervo Enamel, and cleared it with Dupont imron, and it was good for more than 10 years, the only reason it was re-painted was the paint scheme, was changed.
Just my 2 cents worth
Rick