Michael, Welcome aboard. If you plan to slip the boat, than yes it's a good idea to apply bottom paint. If it stays on the trailer, regular boat wax will do. Where do you plan to fish from?
Every year I clean my beach out just to see boat after boat clean house on the gills. Tonight I beat them to it:D After mowing the grass I rigged the fly rod and headed down just before dark. I got a quick 23 before it got to dark to see. These little guys will taste yummy tomorrow;) The bigger ones topped out at 9"