This StarBoard AS marine-grade high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with one slip-resistant diamond patterned side and one matte textured side withstands exposure to UV light, humidity, and water found in harsh marine environments without warping, rotting, or delaminating. It has a high-friction diamond pattern on one side for slip resistance and to promote drainage, and a standard matte textured surface on the other side. The material machines using standard woodworking tools (sold separately). This material is free of BPA (Bisphenol A) to address food safety concerns raised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other organizations. It is made from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved materials. It passes American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D2047 slip-resistant testing, surpassing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) industry requirements, and meets ASTM D4976 specifications.

Plastic refers to a group of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that have been engineered to achieve specific properties. The most notable characteristics of plastics are its low weight, machinability, corrosion resistance, and typically good thermal and electrical insulating properties. Certain plastic grades also offer optical transparency similar to glass, low-friction or self-lubricating surfaces, and exceptional impact resistance. Depending on their properties, certain plastic grades can be used as alternatives to metal, glass, and ceramic. Unlike metal, plastic may experience creep, which is deformation caused by longtime exposure to a constant load.

Tensile strength, used to indicate the material's overall strength, is the peak stress it can withstand before it breaks. Corrosion resistance describes the material's ability to prevent deterioration caused by atmosphere, moisture, or other medium. Wear resistance indicates the ability to prevent surface damage caused by contact with other surfaces. Toughness describes the material's ability to absorb energy before breaking, while hardness (commonly measured as indentation hardness) describes its resistance to permanent surface deformation. Impact resistance is the measure of a material's ability to absorb a shock of energy before breaking.