Dazv,
Your width is pretty much standard by Native American bow stardards. Most of the ones in the museums from the Eastern Woodland area are between 1-1/8" and 1-1/4" wide in the "D" bows. From my experience on the shorter lengths (50" for my 26" draw) the most common error is trying to maintain stiff tips.....that will put too much bend in the center. Tiller your "circle" from the tips toward the grip in order to get you "circle" profile w/o over stressing the center.
I've made NA bows as wide as 1-3/4" and have had no trouble with gettin an arrow around the bow. Just one guy's opinon though. Allmost forgot, the wide and thin bow is easier to shoot with a grip that uses only the "web" of your bow hand thumb and forefinger (upper half of your palmar surface)
rich
PS: I believe that PAPPY gave you real good advice for your first go-around with this style of bow, and you can allways shorten later if ya get the urge.