Thanks again Bill and Mike. For sure the heat was a major factor in the cracking as that hull got HOT when under the sun... I recall paddling once and looking for a leak around the skirt as I felt a drip down my legs and alas it was sweat!
The skin has 2 new coats of glossy black "stops rust" on the hull... Deck is sanded and ready for a single coat sometime this week... Cheers!

: H Tavo,
: I would use satin finish rather than matt/flat, it stays more
: flexible than the matt and gives some but not too much shine. It
: doesn't get quite so hot under the deck as well. Though that's
: not a problem here with our cloudy weather this year. :)
: But multiple thin coats tend to crack much less compared to heavier
: coats regardless of matt/satin type of paint.

: Mike Savage
: South West Cork