We don't use cheater coats but they definitely help the hotcoat be smoother and and easier sand out. A single proper hotcoat and good sand job is all that's needed.
You can squeegee a cheater coat of resin on just to fill in the fiberglass weave. Then about 2 hours or so later (with Quik Kick resin) you can brush on the hotcoat. Just let it flow flat and walk away. Screwing around with the hotcoat will cause pinholes, ripples, and fish eyes.
Next day do the same to the other side.
One thing to know is resin itself is not all that strong. So extra resin on the board only makes it heavier. The lamination of fiberglass and resin (a composite) is the strength of the glass job. The hotcoat is just a sandable sealer to keep water from wicking into the board through the fiberglass strands.