Technical Evaluation of Dayboard Materials

This report identifies and evaluates various materials which may be used to construct long life navigational signs dayboards for the U.S. Coast Guard. First, individual components of the dayboard are discussed. These include dayboard colors, substrates, backings, and adhesives. Advantages and disadvantages of each material are reviewed and summarized in tables for easy reference. Next, promising dayboard materials are combined into thirteen dayboard systems, and discussed in detail. Criteria used to predict performance of these systems include expected life in a marine environment, ease of construction, ease of installation and servicing, safety considerations, and signal effectiveness. Life cycle costs of each system are summarized. Dayboard materials and the 13 systems are rated as unacceptable, Marginally Acceptable, or Fully Acceptable. Information from this report will provide the basis for a decision on which dayboards should be constructed and tested in the next phase of the project.