Shipping A 68", 41# @ 30" One-Piece Reflex/Deflex Longhorn Hybrid Longbow

[Night Wing]

I've been thinking of selling my 68", 41# @ 30" Belcher "Longhorn" hybrid longbow. It's not cut in granite just yet for the selling part. I don't shoot it anywhere near as well as I do my two 66" Blacktail TD recurve bows. I just don't care for the grip.

Two problems. One, since it was the first longbow I ever purchased, it has my name on it. Shouldn't be too much of a problem since I would sell it at a low price. Second problem, it is a one-piece and when it is unstrung, the limb tips are real curved. I don't think it would fit in a 4" diameter PVC tube because of the curvature of the limb tips. Does PVC tubing come in a 6" or 8" diameter? It would have to be shipped in some type of hard tubing so it wouldn't get damaged in shipping. Below is a few photos of the bow.

               

[vermonster13]

The downspout PVC comes in sizes big enough to package up your bow. Got to Home Depot or Lowes and you should be all set.

[LBR]

I've shipped literally hundreds of bows all over the world--pretty sure I've never shipped one in PVC.  

PVC does come in larger sizes than 4".  If you have a neighborhood hardware store, or know someone at your local water dept, you may be able to get a short section without having to buy the whole stick.  Shipping cost is going to be a bugger, on top of buying caps.

Whichever way you ship, I'd pad the ends very well (newpaper works just fine, or bubble wrap, or foam shipping wrap).  I'd also pad the riser well, and if any points on the limb contact the tube or box pad them too.  I use mostly newspaper.  If you have enough space in the container for the bow to shift around, fill it in with packing material (newpaper, bubble wrap, foam peanuts, etc.)

This has worked for me for years, shipping all over the world in cardboard boxes.  I've had some boxes that looked rough when they arrived, but never had a bow get damaged.  I always insure them just in case--the insurance sticker on the box might be the difference in how it gets treated.

[Night Wing]

Thanks to all for their advice. It's much appreciated.