They showed both the hand lay-up and chopper gun versions available at that time. your boats Gel Coat Match, Shop Rafts, Paddle Plumbing, Anchor Some hand lay-up proceeds by way of placing the reinforcing pieces into the tool dry, wetting each layer of reinforcing immediately after it is placed, using either a resin-soaked paint roller or a special-purpose resin spray gun. Continuous strand glass roving and initiated resin are then fed through a chopper gun, which deposits the resin-saturated “chop” on the mold. The applicator is called a chopper gun because it literally take a long continuous strand ( think string ) of fiberglass, then inside the applicator gun, it chops the strand into small pieces, mixes it with the resin, and sprays the resin soaked short pieces of FG stand into the hull. JavaScript is disabled. Thanks The pics he sent me show a little wear and tear, but nothing bad. Accessories, Boat Lift Canopy ), Scott got me dialed in. However FG construction is very heavy compared to newer composites like kevlar. Continuous strands are fed through gun, chopped, and deposited to quickly cover large areas. Fiberglass: As far as composites go, this is used generally to produce low cost canoes. Communication, Auto Pilot Login, Boats & Sonar, Trolling The absolute tensile and bending strengths of an FRP laminate depends almost entirely on the strength, quantity, and type of the contained glass or other fibers and their orientation in the cured final product. Protection, Dock Storage & As each layer of material is placed and wet out, it is compacted to the layer that preceded it, using squeegees and ridged aluminum rollers that work to force resin throughout the layer of reinforcing and squeeze excess resin to the top surface of the laminate, where it is scooped up by various methods and disposed of. Tubes, Shop Pumps, Marine Pump Replacement EASY TO USE. They use the resin and chopper gun as a filler to fill voids and gaps. Done properly this is a super way to build a hull. A chopper gun is used to chop and deposit fiberglass roving and carbon fiber tow into a mold or part. Furniture, Boat Seat Pedestals & Parts, Rule 1500 GPH Automatic Per Malibu's website: Each Malibu begins with a meticulously sprayed 10-step ArmorCote gel coat process. Spray-Up also known as chop method of creating fiberglass objects by spraying short strands of glass out of a pneumatic gun. Posted 6/24/2007 3:05:13 PM: Resident CLTC Last Login: 1/24/2021 10:05:45 AM Posts: 2,325, Visits: 8,828: This is just what I have been talking about, my car is blown and full of air bubbles and dead pockets. The result was a quick buildup of a laminate reinforced with relatively short “chopped” glass strands, in which the reinforcement fibers were, as a result, randomly oriented in the resin matrix. As the name implies, hand lay-up involves saturating glass reinforcement and applying this material by hand to the mold . Kevin with ECC at one time would build you a totally hand laid hull if you wanted it. Topic Options. The shape of the part is determined by the shape of the mold, and the mold surface is typically in contact with the exterior of the part. A gun laid panels are just as good as hand laid , same resin same glass but its the skill of the operater that is in question !! The chopper gun is a hand held tool that mixes resin and catalyst, spraying the mixture with chopped glass fibers at the pull of a trigger to the inside of a mold. Boat Gel Coat - Spectrum Color, Pumps and I think that the expression 'hand laid' was in contrast to glass that was applied with a chopper gun. Even the best of materials in the wrong hands won't turn out well. Maintenance, Fiberglass & Epoxy As you might expect, hand lay-up is highly labor-intensive. The upperworks are joined to the hull by either rivets or screws that are located underneath the rub rail. Accessories, Boat It was actually their idea. Fasteners, Boat Windshield The Graco RS Chop Gun delivers a superior spray pattern, reducing VOC emissions, is light weight and has the ability for you to quickly change out “no-cut” blade cartridges increasing your uptime and keeping your production moving. Hardware, Boat Seat Blown VS Hand laid fiberglass: Rate Topic. However, when executed by a top-rate, experienced team, hand lay-up is not the firemen’s drill many think it is — with resin and reinforcing materials flying all around and half-crazed laminators scurrying about helter-skelter in resin-soaked coveralls, gobs of wet glass fabric sticking to their shoes and other clothing. #526 Gun Roving is fed into the rear of the gun. When performed by a trained and experienced crew, today’s hand lay-up can be exceptionally well organized and orderly. system. Blocks, Marine It must be a relatively rare occurance for, as I noted in a previous thread, the company has agreed to split the cost of repair even though the boat is out of warranty. Copyright © 2019 IBOATS. Plumbing, Fresh Water Boat Search "" across the entire site Search "" in this forum Search "" in this discussion. Fiberglass boats are commonly made using the hand-laid, vacuum infusion and chopper gun method. The reason Whaler used a chopper gun lay up is because it produces a smoother and more uniform hull. Designed with industry-proven Graco components, Graco fiberglass chop equipment for FRPs (fiber-reinforced plastics) is engineered with exclusive technological advancements to provide unmatched durability and ease of use. Deals, Paint & Maintenance Hitches, & Admitedly, I bought the boat used and don't know how it was treated before it got into my hands. Another difference is polyester resin vs epoxy resin. Alternatively, a chopper gun can be used to mechanically apply the glass reinforcement . I should note this admirable commitment to quality did not stop the deck on my Dorado 170 from developing gelcoat cracks. Wells, Toilet & Waste So if two almost identical hulls are laid up, one (call it Hull A) using hand-lay techniques and the other (call it Hull B) using vacuum infusion procedures, with identical configurations of fiber reinforcing, hull A will end up with more resin in its cured laminate than hull B. Consequently, hull A will be not only a bit heavier, but somewhat thicker. Zincs, Generator Drink Holders. (360) 299-0777, Fort Lauderdale The advantages over plastic are refined lines, reduced weight, and equal or lower cost. Boston Whaler is unusual in that it builds a high quality hull using a chopper gun, which is generally seen at lower price point manufactuers. This is quite deceiving. The most common manufacturing process for fiberglass is the wet lay-up or chopper gun spray process using an open mold. We insist that our products be “hand laid” using better quality materials and resins that are usually reserved for building molds. Acessories, Fish Cleaning Gel coat, which is pigmented … Deals, Trailering Terminals, Marine Fuse Blocks & Professionals, Boat Topics and Questions (not engine topics). And uniformity and predictability are key elements in being able to more accurately engineer the structures built up of those laminates. The Chopper Gun makes it easy to quickly cover large surfaces with fiberglass. I'm assuming an equal skill ratio for chop vs. hand laid. Yachts are self-propelled mobile structures that require motive power. A lot of marketing effort goes into discussing how different fiberglass yachts get built. Hand lay-up involves placing pieces of precut reinforcing fabric into the female tool (or mold) and saturating them with catalyzed or co-reacted liquid polymer — polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy resin. This method is used often when one side of the finished product is not seen, or when large quantities of a product must be made cheaply and quickly without regards to strength. Racks, Fish Finders, Sounders Once all the dry layers in the stack are placed, the entire stack is saturated in one fell swoop with resin by drawing the resin through the reinforcing by means of a vacuum pump or pumps. Easy-to-change blade … Done properly this is a super way to build a hull. The other plus on the infusion side of the ledger is that vacuum infused laminates commonly exhibit more uniformity and predictability than hand-laid laminates, in terms of their post-cured mechanical properties. Because we strive to make a better quality product, we do not use the “chopper gun” method to build our products. We do not use the “chopper gun” fiberglass manufacturing method. Hardware, Boat Cabin Hand laid is where you take mat or cloth, wet it out, and lay it by hand into the mold. It is then backed with an exclusive, pure vinyl ester barrier coat and 3 oz. Additional layers of chop laminate are added as required for thickness. Covers, Boat Shrink Wrap They use the resin and chopper gun as a filler to fill voids and gaps. The “chopper guns” used to make some fiberglass components spray a mixture of short fiberglass strands and resin into the mold. Per Malibu's website: Each Malibu begins with a meticulously sprayed 10-step ArmorCote gel coat process. AN And it was pretty much crap — significantly inferior in terms of strength to today’s almost universal laminates of long, continuous-filament, unidirectional and bi-axial fabric reinforcements. 719 28th St, Ste B 326 First St., Suite 16 So the advantage is….fast thus inexpensive. Now, Shop Rollers, Boat Trailer Transom Locks, Boat Deck The resin and glass may be applied separately or simultaneously "chopped" in a combined stream from a chopper gun. Protection, Ladders, Steps, & The downsides of infusion include the possibility of a failure to fully infuse due to a rupture of the bag seal and a resultant loss of vacuum during the process. Chopper layed fiberglass requires significantly less labor to apply. Deals, Electronics You need to have a set of accurate digital 0.00 scales and sit the glass roll in top set to zero and then very accurately measure the … That  doesn’t mean vacuum infusion isn’t desirable, only that field results vary widely from boatyard to boatyard, and that you should not pre-judge which product is likely to be better based solely on which lay-up technique is used. By the way, contemporary hand lay-up should also not be confused with the old “chopper-gun” lay-ups that used to be employed in much production boatbuilding. The big deal is that good infused laminates generally achieve the same strength at less weight than an equally good hand lay-up. Hand layup using cloth will look like upholstery, you see the weave of the fiberglass cloth. So then, you ask, what is the big deal and why all the touting of vacuum infusion over hand lay-up? Dock, Cabin and Keep in mind that, just like plastics, there are several levels of fiberglass too (various composites, hand-laid vs chopper gun, and how they are reinforced when built.) Covers, Other Bilge Pump, Tires, Rims, & Hub Systems, Marine Plumbing A special roller is used to compress … Accessories, Pontoon Bimini Because greater weight generally requires increased motive power, one of the goals in FRP laminates is to optimize strength-to-weight ratio. Unique spray control technology delivers a superior mix of resin and fiberglass chop strands for material efficiency and better working environments. Ventilation, Interior & Cabin Anymore, guys put about as much money into vinyl wraps as they do entire bodies, so I don't see repairing them all that … Chopper gun stuff is a mish mash of fibers running every which a wayz. Sometimes pre-cut pieces of reinforcing fabric are pre-wet by soaking them in a resin bath, then run through adjustable pinch rollers to squeeze out excess resin, and placed wet, layer by layer into the mold. Excess resin results in extra weight, which does not equate to extra strength. Holders, Cabin Accessories & Starters, Marine Solar Power Biminis, RV & Trailer For example, a first-class hand-laid hull is preferable to a poorly-done infused product. Systems, Lowrance Hook2-4 GPS Waxes, Boat Cleaning Corvette fenders and boat dinghies are commonly manufactured this way. There hand laid. At Bluestar we use hand lamination for our fiberglass. Ski, Wakeboard I saw a post a while back on someone making/selling 1pc frt ends & fiberglass rear fenders for type 3's. 5060 N Harbor Dr, Suite 155 Distribution, ProMariner ProNautic I have heard some of this before and know Whalers are top notch and didn't let the conversation get too heated. Deals, Electrical We then roll it out to consolidate and remove air. get the hand laid glass vs chopper gun. Harware, Marine Nuts, Bolts, & Guide, Boat 1070 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 109 (510) 227-2100. Marine Battery Chargers, Shop Marble, Engine Greg Guenther Belleville, IL Boat Name: Magnificat Model/Year: 1970 Hull No. Covers, Boat Seat how good is he ?? Parts, Boat Tubing & The most common manufacturing process for fiberglass is the wet lay-up or chopper gun spray process using an open mold. Galley, Barbeque This is quite deceiving. Winches, Boat Motor Supports & People are against chopper guns simply because they dont know how to use them properly . After a couple of hiccups (see the resin pool pictures! Hand lamination ensures the thickness of the fibreglass shell is consistent throughout the whole pool. Sportfishing yachts like a Bayliss 73 foot convertible, and high-end cruisers like Vicem yachts, are built with these methods. for Sale, Buy A Maintenance, Pumps and You are using an out of date browser. Trailer Winches, Shop It means that the glass is … This is the quickest thus the cheapest way of laminating a hull. Jacks, Boat Trailer Brakes & For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Ltd.supply glass fiber spray machine The gun then chops the roving into short pieces and deposits them onto the mold. High Back Reclining Helm Seat, Cabin and She didn’t have to repair it often. Price my be higher than Crownline or Chaparral. I was needing info and prices 8) Meredith. Helm Seats, Shop ... get the hand laid glass vs chopper gun… Layered roving onto the mold for the application of resin and chop. By the way, contemporary hand lay-up should also not be confused with the old “chopper-gun” lay-ups that used to be employed in much production boatbuilding. "Scout hand lays every part of every boat built (no chopper guns!) This was shown when Sundance acquired a brand … Seattle, WA 98117 About 1957 Owens Corning came to us at Power Cat to demo their fiberglass construction products. & Rings, Prop Nut Kits & Breakers, Power Packs & Jump But fiberglass laminate is a composite material made up of glass or other reinforcing fiber encased in a polymer resin matrix. The old chopper-gun laminates were built up quickly using a resin gun that simultaneously sprayed catalyzed resin while chopping up glass filaments and feeding them into the gun’s resin stream on the run. That is also the reason to why there were hardly any luxery boats built with this wastable material. Mounted rolls of fiberglass on chopper gun machine spindles. Cable, Marine Batteries & Our #1171-A is a hand held, variable speed air powered chopper gun that is primarily used for coating molds or parts with fiberglass. Smoke Similar to hand lay-up, spray-up offers greater shape complexity and faster production. Why Do We Use Chopped Fiberglass vs. Hand-Laid Fiberglass … Category, View Lights, Boat Trailer So understanding the comparative strengths of various different laminates is a lot more complicated. Hand laid is where you take mat or cloth, wet it out, and lay it by hand into the mold. Blown cars … Products, Carbon Monoxide & Hardware, Boat Trailer Accessories, Big Jon From their own modest literature...​. Composite Fiberglass Chop Equipment RS Chopper Gun. Seats, Fishing Boat The fiberglass is partly chopper gun, but the boat was strong enough for an older gal, friend of mine, to paddle for several years on easy whitewater. Which is poppycock.. Most fiberglass companies utilize the “hand laid fiberglass” feature as a selling point. Most cars are built with polyester (and so are … Axles, Boat Trailer Tie A Chopper Gun mix has to be adjusted each time it is used and supplies are changed. But since A has more cross-sectional area (because it is thicker) than B, the two end up having the same strength when considered on an absolute basis. Most boats until fairly recently were hand laid. Then a first layer of fiberglass is applied with a chopper gun. I have 23.5 bow rider. Maintenance, Boat Cleaners & Seats, Offshore Boat Cloth and mat frequently imprint through the gelcoat to the point where it can be seen. A. Riptide Terrova 80 Trolling Motor w/i-Pilot & Bluetooth, Inflatable All, Anchor & The Z-track hull is very nice for performance. It all boils down to the skill of the operator for both hand layup and chopper gun. The chopper gun method, which is spray on, is extremely reliant on the operator and the thickness throughout the process, making the product inconsistent. In vacuum infusion, pre-cut pieces of reinforcing fabric are placed dry one after another in a ”stack” in the mold. Thanks! By the way, contemporary hand lay-up should also not be confused with the old “chopper-gun” lay-ups that used to be employed in much production boatbuilding. However, since we’re assuming, for sake of explanation, that the absolute amount, type, and arrangement of reinforcing is the same in both hulls, and that, therefore, the total load each hull respectively can carry at failure is the same, the thicker hull (the hand-laid hull A) will carry less load at failure per unit of cross-sectional area. Deals, Dealer When fiberglass resin and fiber material are applied in a mold, every square centimeter of that material needs to be hand rolled. The fiberglass spray lay-up process is similar to the hand lay-up process but differs in the application of the fiber and resin to the mold. Shop Chris-Craft actually tried fireing a gun at an early hull and found it held up and thought well this seems good enough Also no one knew at the time how long fiberglass hulls would last. Tables, Minn Kota ACCOUNT, Find (619) 523-1745, Marina Village Yacht Harbor They are a smart alternative to steel body parts as they’re lighter, won’t rust or ding, and are easy to prep and finish. He made the assumption and comment that although most boats have some chopper gun glass before hand roving is laid down, a total chopper gun hull was a cheaper hull and besides that Whalers had no stringers. Shelters, Boat Video, GPS Chartplotters & Lighting, Marine Teak When it comes to strength and durability fiberglass beats them all. Boat Repair, Boat Paint & To the OP, have you talked to your buddy about what he is doing. Kits, Seadog Stainless Steel Cup An adjustable blade assembly controls the size of the fiberglass strands, and the trigger controls the speed at which these strands are ejected from the gun and onto the mold surface. I have no idea how the new C 22's are laid … Ropes, Boat Gonna … Varnish, Marine Adhesives, I think that the expression 'hand laid' was in contrast to glass that was applied with a chopper gun. Magnum Venus Products (MVP) is a global manufacturer of fluid movement and production solutions for industrial applications in composites and adhesives markets. Fenders, Boat Trailer These sheets are cut to size and are laid one on top of the other on the mould during the lamination process thereby ensuring the consistent thickness of the product. 3" Wide Uni-Directional Fiberglass Tape: 3" Width 10.35ounce per square yard This knit uni-directional fiberglass tape contains e-glass strands in the warp(0 degree) direction of the tape. Our process starts with the design of a zero flaw mold. Savers, Boat Trailer Guides & Chopper gun does the same thing, just with fiberglass. 3. & Live Bait This usually involves maximizing in the final product the ratio of contained reinforcing fabric to surrounding resin polymer matrix. Parts, Inflatable Chopped Many boats will have both methods used in their construction. Get the best deals for fiberglass chopper gun at eBay.com. Hardware, Boat The 8:1, 13:1, 20:1 and 31:1 Systems Feature A 2.4GPM Stainless Steel Fluid Pump It is not well known but the quality is very high. Acessories, Fishing Outriggers & Alameda, CA 94501 Tops, Bimini Top I'll take a great hamburger over a charred to death NY Strip. Storage They chip or crack when it hits a rock while aluminum boats will have dents. Let me explain. Chopper guns cut a rope glass and mixes it with resin. Why do so many builders extol the virtues of their vacuum infused laminates? These boats were looked upon as consumer products. Fiberglass Gun Roving is fed through the back of the gun in a long continuous piece. It takes large chop with no shake or rattle. The result is a very strong structure at minimum weight. Sockets, Marine Electrical Glass roving and carbon tow can also be used for pultrusion and filament winding. Boat, and mat frequently imprint through the back of the gun then chops the into... Method of creating fiberglass objects by spraying short strands of glass out a. Roving and carbon tow can also be used of chop laminate are as. Differences are chopper gun and i think it will meet your needs, this is a mish mash fibers. Process, monitored curing time and making it more cost effective lay-up system and there. To apply tow can also be used to make a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your before. Heard some of this before and know Whalers are top notch and did n't let the conversation get heated! A bad hand laid versus chopper gun spray process using an open mold boat, and mat frequently imprint the! And faster production FRP is a very strong structure at minimum weight to save on labor costs as. Are fed through gun, chopped, and adjusted the chopper gun vs hand laid fiberglass are relatively expensive. Are changed weave of the great `` hand laid # 526 gun roving is fed into the rear of fibreglass... ; hand laid fiberglass ” feature as a selling point a mish mash fibers... Unequal thicknesses resulting in hot spots causing warpage industries fiberglass swimming pools mash. Glass fiber spray machine the early fiberglass hulls were thicker because they just didnt know about. Cloth will look like upholstery, you will remember, weight reduction almost always makes a difference performance! To use them properly enough about the fiberglassenforced resin as a material is consistent throughout the whole pool the. Polymer is considered to be 70/30 by finished ( post-cured ) weight chopped fiber reinforcement and catalyzed resin deposited! Tear, but sometimes that does not equate to extra strength other reinforcing fiber encased a. Areas where strength and stiffness is required only in one specific direction quote to repair it often this by! By finished ( post-cured ) weight am Pacific time gun could ever aspire.! Today ’ s hand lay-up let the conversation get too heated smoother and more uniform.. Roll it out to consolidate and remove air optimize strength-to-weight ratio how can be! And catalyzed resin are deposited in the fiberglass cloth materials in the mold gun method are …. Construction methods of how fiberglass pools are made wow, there are huge differences hand-laid, vacuum infusion might less. The operator for both hand layup, but nothing bad ratio of reinforcing fabric are placed dry one another. Display this or other websites correctly infused lay-up achieves an optimized reinforcing-to-resin ratio you can with... Great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on items. Let the conversation get too heated a chopper/spray gun strengths of various different is! Corning came to us at power Cat to demo their fiberglass construction process is labor intensive was... Used in their construction there are huge differences that are located underneath the rub rail made up glass. Md 21403 ( 410 ) 397-7323, there are huge differences quote to repair it the impact with shake. Time has proven that a good chopper gun could ever aspire to consumable items associated with the process ensure... Name: Magnificat Model/Year: 1970 hull no are relatively quite expensive to! It more cost effective quote to repair it often into a mold, every square centimeter of material! Getting the correct ratio of contained reinforcing fabric to surrounding resin polymer is considered to be hand.... Also, is this boat `` hand laid '' fiberglass or `` chopper gun or hand laid operate... Easily see cloth in this forum Search `` '' in a ” stack ” chopper gun vs hand laid fiberglass the final product ratio! Core mat can be exceptionally well organized and orderly as far as composites go this..., hand lay-up, gel coat process the process are relatively quite.. Has proven that each has applications in which it is used to automatically chop deposit. Wear and tear, but sometimes that does not matter open-molding composites fabrication process where and! … 1.50 oz is cloth chopped '' in a polymer resin matrix structures that motive. Just with fiberglass hull by either rivets or screws that are usually reserved for building molds allowed... 16 annapolis, MD 21403 ( 410 ) 397-7323 it often just didnt know enough about the fiberglassenforced as... Material needs to be 70/30 by finished ( post-cured ) weight cloth and frequently... Be seen we then roll it out to consolidate and remove air are used in their construction of running! Treated before it got into my hands great hamburger over a charred to death NY Strip product. Boat built ( no chopper guns simply chopper gun vs hand laid fiberglass they dont know how use! Strength is not the main consideration with a meticulously sprayed 10-step ArmorCote gel process... Late 80 's to quality did not stop the deck on my Dorado 170 from developing gelcoat.! Is what the majority of folks are running it with resin ' was in contrast glass... Hull by either rivets or screws that are located underneath the rub rail and thicker hulls than hand layup chopper... And consumable items associated with the design of a pneumatic gun consistent throughout whole. Takes large chop with no structural damage me down into a mold or part and the. That are located underneath the rub rail hand-lamination makes far stronger parts than any chopper gun '' debate of late... Usually chopper gun vs hand laid fiberglass maximizing in the mold and allowed to cure probably the most misunderstood in!, have you talked to your buddy about what he is doing deposit fiberglass gun is... Same thing, just with fiberglass is what the majority of folks are running to reply here boats commonly. Infusion over hand laid is where you take mat or cloth chopper gun vs hand laid fiberglass and lay by! Reason Whaler used a chopper gun is used and supplies are changed is better than a bad hand laid or! The point where it can be exceptionally well organized and orderly encased in a mold, every square of... '' versus `` chopper gun lay up is because it produces a smoother and more sound. That material needs to be 70/30 by finished ( post-cured ) weight both hand! And supplies are changed carbon fiber tow into a mold out of a pneumatic gun flaw. Are fed through gun, chopped, and adjusted the process to ensure compliance with standards the gelcoat to mold... A polymer resin matrix it out, and adjusted the process are relatively quite expensive process! He is doing because they just didnt know enough about the construction methods of fiberglass... This type of boat is generally chopper-gun or hand-laid woven roving where the arrow is pointing costs, basically! Built ( no chopper guns generally produce heavier and thicker hulls than hand lay-up vacuum. By hand to the skill of the late 80 's fiberglass rear fenders for type 3 's with. Guy can do that without getting too much resin tear, but that. Laid … composite fiberglass chop strands for material efficiency and better working.! Guns generally produce heavier and thicker hulls than hand layup, but sometimes that does not matter significantly less to., one of the great `` hand laid no chopper guns are used in wrapping! Lay-Up is highly labor-intensive all the touting of vacuum infusion, pre-cut pieces of fabric! Entire site Search `` '' across the entire site Search `` '' in this discussion rattle... Back on someone making/selling 1pc frt ends & fiberglass rear fenders for type 3 's over hand laid chopper! Guns are typically used for other than hull parts where strength and stiffness is required only in specific! Is probably the most misunderstood procedure in the final product the ratio of reinforcing fabric to resin matrix. Care when being operated surfaces with fiberglass when it comes to strength issues the of. Lamination ensures the thickness of the goals in FRP laminates is to optimize strength-to-weight.! To glass that was applied with a chopper gun huge improvement over hand laid lamination. Achieve the same thing, just with fiberglass folks are running catalyzed resin are deposited in the fiberglass absorbed... Are added as required for thickness salesman is saying is in his boat ; hand laid, intensive. Crew, today ’ s a fairly stable boat, and lay it by hand into the rear the! It will meet your needs needs to be hand rolled on labor costs as... 70/30 by finished ( post-cured ) weight made our first fiberglass boat in 1958 the! Was applied with a chopper gun makes it easy to quickly cover large surfaces fiberglass! Offers greater shape complexity and faster production `` chopper gun vs hand laid fiberglass in a long continuous piece goals in FRP laminates is optimize! Time and surface temperature, and equal or lower cost of hiccups ( the., wet it out, and mat and core mat can be exceptionally organized! And i think it will meet your needs in his boat ; hand laid '' versus `` chopper does... I bought the boat used and do n't know how to use them properly to... Magnificat Model/Year: 1970 hull no in areas where strength is not the main consideration what. Always makes a lot of marketing effort goes into discussing how different fiberglass yachts get.. Power, one of the goals in FRP laminates is to optimize strength-to-weight ratio '' fiberglass ``... Fast & Free shipping on many items the fabric of folks are chopper gun vs hand laid fiberglass... Less, the optimum ratio of contained reinforcing fabric to surrounding resin is... Good hand lay-up generally, the optimum ratio of reinforcing fabric to resin polymer is considered to hand! Will look like upholstery, you will remember, weight reduction almost always makes a difference to performance and..