New York Sea Grant's
Marina Pollution Prevention Web Site

Section 2: Painting & Fiberglass Repair

Painting and repairing hulls on recreational boats often involves the use of a number of potentially harmful or hazardous products that that can cause problems if they are not handled and managed properly. Prepping a hull for painting generates waste products like paint chips and dust that can be extremely harmful marine life if they get into the environment. The copper and other compounds found boat bottom paints can also contaminate sediments if they are allowed to enter the marina basin. This can make dredging and disposing of the dredged material more difficult and costly. To learn more on how you can minimize the potential impacts associated with painting and repairing hulls, click on the specific topics listed on the left.