Installing a stabilizer insert in a recurve for bowfishing

[Drew]

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]

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]

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]

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

[Drew]

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

[bowmofo]

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]

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

[shortstroke 91]

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

[gwhunter]

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]

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.