Installing a stabilizer insert in a recurve for bowfishing

Drew · July 03, 2007, 09:41:00 PM

I have a recurve I want to set up for bowfishing. I've seen the price of the "gadget" adapters for recurves and longbows.

How hard is it to install a stabilizer insert, i figure it's not hard to do but how do i know the right position/placement on the bow?

thanks for any help.

gregg dudley · July 03, 2007, 10:52:00 PM

It is not that hard to do. Frank Scott of Bear Archery fame gave me an insert to convert an old beater of a Pearson bow when I was a kid in college at UF. It was not that big of a deal...but nothing is when you are working with a $35 bow to begin with!

duck'n · July 04, 2007, 08:30:00 AM

Another option would be side mount quiver bushings. These are cheap and easy to install. I even did a set without the aid of a drill press but I don't recommend it. I don't know how easy the front mount bushing is but it can't be too terribly difficult. I just like having my reel on the side of the bow. By the way, they do make side mounts for spincast reels such as a Zebco if you don't want to use an AMS.

Guss · July 04, 2007, 08:54:00 AM

I have an AMS reel on one of my longbows using the 3 Rivers mount and it works great.
Jr.

Drew · July 04, 2007, 08:51:00 PM

just worried about placement so I don't screw up the bow....any help?

bowmofo · July 04, 2007, 09:32:00 PM

I made a padded handle for the reel so I can hold both at the same time. when pulling in a fish I put the over my head, so I'm hands free. It works like a charm! Mike

Jason R. Wesbrock · July 05, 2007, 12:30:00 AM

They're very easy to install, although I'd highly suggest using a drill press.

shortstroke 91 · July 05, 2007, 10:40:00 AM

make sure you mount it low enough that you can still get a comfortable grip when there's a reel attached to it.

gwhunter · July 05, 2007, 11:45:00 AM

Drill press is nice, but not required. I did one recently without one and it works great, but afterwards I thought how much easier it would have been with a drill press.

I installed it in an old Ben Pearson fiberglass Pinto.

Make sure that you put it low, as mentioned earlier, but still in the beefy part of the riser. I would worry that the riser might crack from stress if I put it too low. I will see if I can come up with another picture that shows it better.

http://s108.photobucket.com/albums/n24/gw_hunter/bow_fishing/?action=view¤t=IMG_0647.jpg

Doc Nock · July 05, 2007, 03:24:00 PM

I did on an old bear bow too..just put masking tape over the white plastic and used a small bit to start and then a larger foster style to make the real hole..used a very cheap drill press.

Used "Brownell's Glass Bedding" to epoxy in the bushing as that stuff will last till the end of time! Now I wish I'd have done smaller inserts into the side of the riser for the AMS side mount unit.