Early use of Chopper Guns in Const

captnorm · #1 07-20-2001

Help settle argument my friend and I have. He says the first use of fiberglass boatbuilding utilizing chopper guns was in 1973. I think many Columbias, and others were built using chopper gun layup in the 60''s. Anyone know for sure?

Thanks, Norm

RobHoman · #2 07-20-2001

I honestly can''t tell you when they began using them, but I have a Morgan OI-33 Hull number is #162 built in 1975 that has a completely hand laid hull. No chopper gun used in this boat.

I think they were used in the 60''s....but only in smaller powerboats....I remember a friend I used to go waterskiing with in the early 60''s and I always thought the inside of the hull looked "cheap or shoddy". It was not hand laid. Can''t remember the name of the boat...simple 16'' or 17'' runabout with a 40HP Evinrude OB.

#3 07-20-2001

Chopper gun use was very common by 1973. They were in use in many trailerables and were used to bulk up the inner laminations on many bigger and better boats. The first time I heard of chopper guns was in the late 1960''s somewhere around 1967 or so.

Jeff