This from West Marine... A word about timing
As you choose your paint and schedule your haulout, consider how much drying time you should allow between coats and how long the new paint can be left out of the water. Drying time between coats can vary from ten minutes for Teflon-based VC-17m to a 16-hour (or overnight) minimum for Trilux 33. For proper planning it is important to check the manufacturer?s recommendation in advance, both for the drying time and for the recommended number of coats. For example, West Marine?s most popular modified epoxy paint, BottomShield, has a drying time of four to six hours, and a maximum of 60 days before relaunch. Copolymer ablative paints have minimum overcoating times, and no maximum out-of-water time. Copolymers are a good choice for trailerable boats that need antifouling protection while in the water, but also spend time on the hard. Recoat following manufacturer recommendations regarding overcoating times, which can vary based on temperature.
Viper, I'm glad you asked the question, as I never knew that a copolymer like the Seahawk Monterey paint I use, could be applied in the Fall. Don't know if I will, but now I know it's an option. When you say your boat still has the 'factory paint', is it really barrier coated, or do you have the bare fiberglass finish on the bottom. If the latter, you have prep work to do, i.e., prepping the hull and applying barrier coats before the antifouling.
Ned L, the formulations have changed. When I was a kid, my Dad and other boaters would always launch with the second coat still 'wet' (within 24 hours of applying it). AF was designed then to cure in the water. It also leached a lot of copper.
My .02
