Many boaters sand and paint their own boats without the aid of a professional. This is acceptable if the boater is aware of the environmental hazards of conducting such tasks. If the marina allows traditional sanding technology, a drop cloth should be placed beneath the hull to catch sanding dust and paint chips. Loose paint particles should be vacuumed or swept up instead of hosed away. Wherever possible, sanding should be undertaken in an enclosed facility where grit can be contained and recovered. Working indoors or under cover in windy conditions will prevent dust and paint from blowing into the open air. The boat should be placed over a hard non-porous surface, such as a concrete pad..

Dustless sanders, grinders, and closed-loop blasting systems can significantly reduce the amount of fine debris released into the environment. Many marinas rent this equipment to their customers to promote their use and also to reduce contamination. This not only promotes environmental awareness, it also generates income for the marina.

At some of the larger facilities, a professional sandblasting service may be available. Sandblasting of boat hulls is a messy job, resulting in many hundreds of kilograms of spent silica mixed with bottom paint, all of which must be stored in barrels for disposal at a landfill. While the sand is relatively cheap, the labour is costly and the marine environment can be fouled. Therefore, sandblasting should only be undertaken in an enclosed facility where grit is contained and recovered.

Instead of silica, some marinas now use a plastic medium blast (PMB) material that can be reused several times. The plastic medium is harder than the paint and literally blasts the paint off, but is not hard enough to damage the fiberglass gelcoat. Thus, the medium is well-suited for removal of antifoulant paint. Once the antifoulant is removed, the PMB and paint are vacuumed into a hopper, which feeds the mix for medium recovery, cleaning, and reclamation. The old paint dust is separated and collected, resulting in a significant reduction in the amount of waste dust to be disposed. The ex-bottom paint is dry, feels like clay powder and is virtually odourless. This PMB technology reduces the cost of cleanup and disposal, gives a higher quality surface, and is much less aggressive on newer gelcoat.

The purpose of antifouling paint is to prevent marine growth on the hull of vessels. Most antifouling paints work by continuously releasing very small quantities of active ingredients including organotin or copper compounds. These toxic substances discourage organisms from settling and growing on the painted surfaces. It has been shown that small concentrations of these active ingredients, in particular tributyltin (TBT), can be detrimental to aquatic life in the marine environment. When concentrated amounts of these materials are allowed to escape from hull maintenance and repair areas, there is a potential for environmental harm. Materials such as solvents, thinners, and brush cleaners, often used in sanding and painting, can also harm the environment if handled improperly. Some of these materials contain cancer-causing agents and have a tendency to sink in the water column, compromising water quality and damaging marine life and the marine environment. Paints containing tributyltin are illegal for all pleasure boat use.

It is suggested that marinas only keep enough paints, varnishes, and solvents for one season. When possible, water-based paints and solvents should be used. Paints, solvents, and reducers should be mixed far from the water's edge and transferred to work areas in tightly covered containers. Empty paint or solvent containers should be left open to dry out before being recycled.