[david_s]

If he's buying off the shelf he won't have a lot of choice on the length. He should pick a weight that he can pull comfortably. Bear in mind that if he is going to do marks or flight he might want a bit of extra draw to get past his ear.

The draw-weight curve of a longbow will be very different to the recurve and the best way is to find somewhere he can try a few.

If you are having one made, leave it to the bowyer. I usuall reckon on 68" for a 28" draw and add a couple of inches for every half inch after that. But what I usually do is start off with a long bit of wood and pike it during tillering.