Ocean Spray

[Keenan]

 Great advice given already. Ocean spray is as Steve said a very strong wood and even though your branch is fairly small it can make a bow. I saw one that John Strunk had made from a branch about the same size..  You will need to seal the pith area by the handle real well after roughing in the limbs. It will want to check there.

[Elktracker]

I really like Ocean Spray  and also have seen and shot a couple of John Strunks Ocean Spray bows it makes excellent bow wood. A 3/4" piece 62 to 66" long will easily make a 60lb bow. After harvesting and drying allot of OS staves the best way I have found to dry them is I seal the ends with glue very well at least 12 to 14" down the stave and put it in a cool place to dry like under a house or in a basement for at least a few months minimum. Then I will move it into the house where I usually put it in the coolest room in the house for a month or two more and then finally I move it into the same room that the fire place is in for a month and the stave is usually dry enough to work with. This is just how I have found works for me to keep them from checking all together or minimizing it to a point it doesnt affect the bow. All of the other posts are good info as well and would probably work just as good to stop checking although I have never tried roughing one out and then sealing and drying but if I did I would seal it with multiple coats to be safe, wether that is needed or not I dont know but I wouldnt want to risk it with a good Ocean Spray stave IMO

Josh