[Archers] PVC Pipe Bows

[Janyn Fletcher]

Jerry, either I wasn't clear or you misunderstood my comment. What I meant
by "fiberglass bow" was a rod bow made from fiberglass rods. I think that is
what I posted? Those were not intentionally made to be bows but many of us
have seen them. I agree with your comments and want to point out to all of
our marshals that safety is our first concern, period! I don't want to just
shoot down issues by saying no immediately. This is where you will hear me
preach that I expect you all to use your best judgments and common sense. If
we start seeing issues I would have no problem banning them immediately.
Jerry I understand you might be a newer marshal but I know there are plenty
of experienced marshals like myself out there as well. You will be one of
them in no time for sure. If you are alone and you come across an issue you
think is unsafe, then call it. I will tell you without waiver I will back
everyone of my marshals when they rule on the side of safety! I can't stress
that enough. What I don't want to happen is Marshals running shooters off
because they themselves didn't understand our rules or were unsure of them
(different subject all together, sorry... :)   )

So hope this helps. What you described about the PVC bow also holds true for
almost every bow you see. None of us know when a bow is going to fail unless
there are some very obviously signs. I have been shooting archery for 37
years now and I can tell you that most I have seen fail were complete
surprises and there were even a few that were almost brand new.

In Service,

Janyn



-----Original Message-----
From: Alexandratos, Jerry (NIH/NCI) [E] [mailto:alexanje at mail.nih.gov] 
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2012 10:23 AM
To: Janyn Fletcher
Cc: archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Subject: RE: [Archers] PVC Pipe Bows

M'lord Janyn,
    You have put your finger on the point which has been bothering me
subliminally from the beginning.  With respect, I disagree that a home-made
PVC pipe bow is "no different" from a commercial fiberglass bow.  A
fiberglass bow is designed to be a bow.  A PVC pipe is designed to be a pipe
and has been jerry-built (no pun intended) into a bow.  I feel that I have
been trained on and have experience with many different kinds of bows, and
so I have the ability to determine what is safe and what is not.  I have no
such experience or assurance with a PVC pipe cut into the shape of a bow.
The first PVC pipe I see could be in fine shape or ready to disintegrate
with the first arrow; I would have no idea.  Furthermore, the 'design'
aspect of the fiberglass bow may provide some protection from liability for
my Barony and perhaps for myself in the event of an accident.  (No, I am not
a lawyer, but I am professionally and personally paranoid, so range safety
is always on my mind.)  I know that you are much more experienced than I
with bows and archery in general, so you have more assurance.  Were I you, I
would not transfer your very high level of assurance and experience to the
average archery marshal like me.  I was uncertain at the beginning of this
discussion, but right now I would not allow a PVC pipe bow on my range.
Just my two cents.  regards, Jerry 
 

From: Janyn Fletcher [janynfletcher at comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, September 15, 2012 11:31 PM

Fen yes, they are no different than a fiberglass rod bow which is just as
strange but technically legal by our rules. Again I don't want to encourage
these showing up on our ranges, they are far from period and not even close
to period materials so let leave them for YouTube and the archery clubs to
deal with.

Janyn