The Hooptie Duex!!

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02-17-2008, 08:33 PM
Blake Shadle

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The Hooptie Duex!!

Hey everybody! I'm very proud to present... The Hooptie Duex!!

Along with its Captain, James "Darth Vader" Shadle!
02-17-2008, 08:47 PM
Alfred Forns

Sensory Overload !!!!!! One good looking spoon magnet !!! Big Congrats guys Sure looks great !!!!
02-17-2008, 08:52 PM
Judy Lynn Malloch

Wow what a beauty !!! I am coming up as soon as I can get there James. Congratulations !!!!
02-17-2008, 09:17 PM
Sid Garige

Can he compete with this?

http://luminepixels.com/temp/_DSC4684.jpg:D
02-17-2008, 09:53 PM
Fabs Forns

C'mon, Sid, James doesn't have a prayer :)
02-18-2008, 06:34 AM
Maxis Gamez

Hey Blake!! Awesome man!! Congratulations!!
02-18-2008, 07:47 AM
Philip Pietri

Very nice. You should throw some chrome 22's on that bad boy. I look forward to being a passenger!
02-18-2008, 05:59 PM
George DeCamp

Whoa, that is an awesome boat! Sorry I didn't come this week! ;)
All the best of luck with it and congratulations!
02-19-2008, 03:40 PM
Jim Caldwell

Sweeeeet!!!! Can't wait to see it in person!
02-20-2008, 07:45 PM
Arthur Morris

Very comfy seats and rides like a dream in snooty weather (as opposed to its predecessor...)

later and love, artie
02-20-2008, 08:16 PM
Mike Tracy

Nice vessel.

I need to replace my boat that was stolen a while back. I have been agonizing whether to go your route or get me another flats boat. Fishing has always been my life long passion and what ever I choose will have to suite this purpose as well as afford me the ability to get close enough to photograph birds. Do you find that pontoon boats draft is shallow enough to get into skinny water ? Do you trailer this and if so is it a pain to launch ? Any other specs or info you can provide would be most welcome.
02-23-2008, 05:55 PM
Bob Ferry

Aw C'mon you mean we dont have the luxury of you wading in the water pushing us off sandbars anymore??? Bummer!!! :-)
Bob
02-24-2008, 01:16 PM
Blake Shadle

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Ferry

Aw C'mon you mean we dont have the luxury of you wading in the water pushing us off sandbars anymore??? Bummer!!! :-)
Bob

Hey Bob, that luxury is still available and a common feature of our boat trips! haha :D

I got to do a little boat pulling this weekend and for how big the boat is, it's pretty dadgum light! Tides change way to fast in the Bay!!! (at least it feels that way when you've got 700mm on a group of spoonies) ;)
02-24-2008, 01:18 PM
Blake Shadle

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Tracy

Nice vessel.

I need to replace my boat that was stolen a while back. I have been agonizing whether to go your route or get me another flats boat. Fishing has always been my life long passion and what ever I choose will have to suite this purpose as well as afford me the ability to get close enough to photograph birds. Do you find that pontoon boats draft is shallow enough to get into skinny water ? Do you trailer this and if so is it a pain to launch ? Any other specs or info you can provide would be most welcome.

Hi Mike, I'm not sure about a lot of your questions, but the depth all depends on what you call skinny water ;) Saturday we were floating in one foot, 5 people and loaded with gear.
02-24-2008, 09:07 PM
James Shadle

Mike,
Positives.
Very shallow draft, Lots of room!
Not bad to launch (I trailer the Deux), I have a 40hp ETec, fuel consumption is great, oil use is awesome!
Very dry ride, incredibly stable ( my first sea trial in the Deux was 20+ knot winds!)

Negatives.
Slow, HP does not make the same kind of difference it does in a skiff.
It is semi-planing, so it will float in the same water as a skiff but does not lift like a skiff.
So a skiff wins hands down for shallow water under power.
It looks nerdy.

Capt Darth Shadle
02-24-2008, 11:55 PM
Judd Patterson

From the quality of the images coming off the Hooptie Deux, I don't think any of us are too concerned about the nerdy look. :) Can't believe that it'll float with 5 folks and gear in a foot of water...cool.
02-25-2008, 06:32 AM
Maxis Gamez

Actually LESS than a foot of water! :)
02-26-2008, 02:47 AM
Bob Ferry

I knew you guys wouldnt let us down...:-). I still have the pics of James pulling us around waist deep...LOL

On a different note. I see James is pushing the Tamron 70-300 lens in the latest issue of OP magazine. Im looking to upgrade my lenses and have a bid on a 50-500 Sigma but dont think the bid will hold. Is the Tamron truly a great lens and is it one you guys would recommend?. Im looking for a lens with great glass, and easy function. Ever since James lent me his 80-400 Im hooked on longer focal length but the 1000+ pricetag is a bit outta range right now.

Bob