We live in the PNW where the water is relatively cold (usually around 54 degrees). We are headed down to Mexico, where we've heard rumors that the waters up in the Sea of Cortez are warmer than here.

We were advised to use a hard bottom paint like Pettit Trinidad SR (which is a hard modified epoxy). Our question is: Is there any advantage/disadvantage of either painting the bottom while up in the PNW verses waiting until we get down south or is water temperature and application of bottom paint a mute point?
Ray and Sandy