[blt2go]

planning my boat build and have been looking at others. what i haven't seen is a way to protect shooting bows. i know this is a rough and tumble sport and things aren't moving at a leisure pace. i'd like to build an open padded "basket" that can mount either inside or outside the railing of the raised deck. main thing i'm concerned about is when shooting with ams retriever and hand pulling line. i'd like to be able to drop the bow in and start pulling line without worry of stepping on or kicking bow overboard. or loosing grip on line and having it pulled in. i do have a "beater" bow, but i'm not partial to tearing things up.

 

[mattman]

if you are doing a kick rail maybe some rubber coated bike hooks. then the limbs could hang on them and you wouldnt have to worrie about stepping on the bow. Personally I just have a cheap recurve so i just throw it on the floor and try not to step on it. but things get crazy out there. I fell outta the boat 3 times since i started bowfishing,

 

[blt2go]

if you are doing a kick rail maybe some rubber coated bike hooks. then the limbs could hang on them and you wouldnt have to worrie about stepping on the bow. Personally I just have a cheap recurve so i just throw it on the floor and try not to step on it. but things get crazy out there. I fell outta the boat 3 times since i started bowfishing,

yeah, i've got a couple beaters i use, but i have to drive 2.5 hours most times to shoot. trying to figure out how to make more time shooting and a little less repairing. nephews are getting ready to be able to go also and a clearer deck means less fishing rugrats out of the drink...i hope!

that sounds good and doable i'll look into those. they would be ready made, maybe add some thin padding. thanks

i've been toying with the idea of a basket or cradle made of pipe and wrapped with that foam pipe insulation. just about double width of widest part of bow and about 6 inches longer than my longest. a quick drop in and all hands on line for retrieval. thinking i'll make them hook over top rail and secure with bungee or biner.

 

[mattman]

to be honest I like the basket idea even better! that way you have some room to make sure your bow makes it in. I know it gets crazy with new shooters and sometimes even with people that shoot alot so the more room the better. would love to see how it turns out