Hydrostream

[Binger]

went to the web site and was woundering if they are alive, i hope so, anyone know for sure?

[eautosales]

yes they are alive the just unveiled a few new boats
the owner posts on this board under stream1

[10.5' Tunnel]

Also visit www.hydrosteam.org they have really good info on older models.

[pyro]

Yes, I guess they are, but kind of underground :confused:

They build an excellent product these days, awesome boats.
but...
The company's owner, Jim Contzen, hasn't yet discovered the concept of PROMOTION. The first place anyone looks these days is the INTERNET, and the site is never updated, and lacks any decent content other than a few nice pictures. They aren't making any new clothing items, God forbid you could ever buy anything through the website like any other company willing to do E-business.

I ordered some stickers and a sweatshirt over the phone. The sweatshirt doesn't have the classic logo like I understood it did, and the packing material (and the shirt) had fiberglass strands all over it. Who the hell wants to wear a shirt full of glass splinters? I also purchesed some stickers for my two cars, which were stuck to some kind of release film that does not release, I had to peel the decals with my fingernails to get them to stay stuck to the top-side backing sheet.

THIS website is probably the only place you'll find the brand being promoted,currently. Many of those elite boaters among us who know the Hydrostream brand name, mostly all think the company is still out of business. Those who are not familiar with the name, probably won't ever discover it, those potential buyers continue to waste their money on Jet-skis while outboard boating declines.

I wrote a couple of e-mails to Jim, asking about the possibility of recruiting some dealers in my area, and he didn't show much enthusiasm. I printed off some new full-page Hydrostream pictures on heavy high-quality paper a few weeks ago. (There's more pictures of the new boats HERE on these forums than on his website.) I delivered the stack of photos to the friendly owner of a local boat dealer, with "Black Diamond Marine" and Jim's number printed at the bottom. That's probably the best brochure out there right now, but I can't print another one, I ran out of ink on the first one. There's a nice shot of a new Vegas XT featured in this year's Mercury Outboards catalog, that's some of the best press Hydrostream has had since Jim re-birthed the brand name. I heard they had a good write-up in a small magazine.

This isn't really any of my business, but I want to express my opinion and frustrations on the topic. When I grew up, fast outboards ruled the lake. Now, you have to drive hundreds of miles to find a dealer selling performance-oriented outboard boats. Southeast Michigan, in particular, does not have ANY such dealer or marina, to my knowledge. Inland boaters here are spending millions of dollars on ski boats for skiing, and PWC's for "playing around", while the website sits idle, and a small, skilled fiberglass crew builds a great boat that Screams And Flies, unknown to the public...

Jim, if you are reading this, please don't take offense, I would love to help promote the product any way I can. Get me some good brochures and print goodies, and maybe some new stickers. A couple of really big ones, please. I'll help get the word out! :)

-Chad

[spdboat]

I saw a couple of the new ones at RBR and they look great. The owner said they were being made in TN. They have a deep V like an Allison with a wide pad and he says they handle great. I think it might be time to trade up:eek: !!!!

Old vs. New????

[quickonstep]

well hydrostreams are great boats... and you can find them on the web at http://www.hydrostream.com

btw, pyro, I WANT YOUR BOAT..

thats all


Jesse

[Binger]

Thanks for the info, i just got my hydrostream this year ita a 85 valero, and i agree with you pyro, it is an amazing piece of machinery, i have had dirt bike roads bikes shiftercarts and sleds but my hydro is on the top of the list. I hope they get there act together they have a killer product.

[rmh77]

heres my valero! fun boat!:cool:

[Clyde]

Okay, Im a whore!

And everything Pyro said is true. (Note to Jim, you need to update almost EVERYTHING on your web site!)There in lies the problem. Here is a guy that is reserecting a Co. that has the brand identity and following of a Harley Davidson but was literaly started over. Did I say I was a whore??? anyway, you get the picture. What I can tell you is that I have owned enough Streams, old and new, to tell you they are headed in the right direction. It's just that you can only do so much at once.

I have got to know Jim well in the last year or so, he and Dennis and the rest of the crew are all 1st class. I'm sure you will see more good things come from them in the future. :cool:

[Scream And Fly]

I'll help with Hydrostream's website if they need it : )

The V-King has always been my favorite V-bottom outboard "hotrod" boat. A design that is distinctly recognizable, yet somewhat sinister with that famous "hooked nose." Looks like Hydrostream is continuing that tradition with the Venom too... Very cool.

Awesome boat Clyde!

Greg:)

[pyro]

If someone sees a hot 'Stream on the lake, and wants to know more, the first thing they do is go to the computer and look it up.

The whole Hydrostream website needs to be ****-canned. Start over. The current layout is cheap, generic, and looks like someone just filled in the blanks on a "do-it-yourself" template. "Drive one and you'll understand" sounds more like "Take my word for it."

PRESS RELEASE
SEPT. 28, 2002
HOT off the press!!
All New items for 2003! Check back soon!
Venom - Brand new Lake Racer v-bottom coming March 2003
what the hell?

http://www.hydrostream.com/Why.htm : (check out the formatting)
"At HydroStream, our goal is not to bore you with outrageous claims, but to provide you with enough information to help you make intelligent, informed choices when making your next performance boat purchase."
Information from where?

The cover photo and logo is nice, that can stay.

There needs to be a LOT more text. Jim has posted on this forum and told us all about vaccuum-bagged hulls and composite construction, now it's time to tell the rest of the world. DETAILED write-ups giving an up-close look at the superior hull construction, with factory photos showing the layup process.

BOTTOM pics, especially for those who aren't familiar with the XT hull design. Detailed descriptions about the boat's excellent handling characteristics. Something to sell people on the boats.

The Voyager XT page only has one photo showing just part of the open bow. Who's gonna buy a bowrider when they can't even see the front seating area? A picture with a happy family of six sitting in the boat would be excellent.

Photos showing a functional swim platform and step are ESSENTIAL to sell a family performance boat. People of all ages like to ski and swim, and there are not any photos showing that such a step even exists. I wish I could find an original teak one for mine, because it's painful to get in and out of it in deep water.

Who is the guy in Florida that has a helicopter for photography? Pictures of the boats with happy passengers, cruising along at 50 mph, shot from an elevated position, THAT would look great!

The "Race proven hulls" section is a turn-off to anyone looking for a family boat. Too much emphasis here. The racing part should be mostly in reference to the Venom. The XT is a fast, "MODVP-bred" hull, but it needs to appeal to the WIVES in the families too.

How about some E-biz? New CLOTHING and accessories to show off the name. It's AD promotion in disguise. It's very easy and inexpensive to open up a Yahoo-type store online, so people can buy things from the website with a credit card. There's a lot of potential for profit there, plenty enough to afford to hire staff to support it and keep the site up-to-date.

A good website does not cost thousands upon thousands of dollars to design. There are many skilled people with a knack for web design. A guy I work with does websites on the side, he writes ALL of his own code for Flash, Perl, and many other formats. His work is incredible, and he is self-taught. Our own GREG has proven himself as well, and Jim should welcome his offer to help out.

-Chad

[Adam]

Binger,

Since you are in Canada, talk to John Spaeth (705 484-0407). He builds and represents Hydrostream in Canada.

He's up in Brechin Ontario, so not too far from you in Newmarket.

Cheers.

[WATERWINGS]

Greg, how did you make your boat look like it was in the water?

Is that some sort of photo shop trickery?:D

[halveb]

I was wondering the same thing. :D Of course it could also be a stunt double (person, boat, or both :confused: ). ;) :D

[rmh77]

Yea greg thats a hell of a good photo chop!:D It look so real!!

[Clyde]

Yup, he uses his boat, here's one of him in Venice.....BTW, Greg, thank's. I think the V-king is a classic design, one that has/will stand the test of time.

[tripledude]

That's a great photo. I saw the new Stream bowrider at the Rumble last year. Beautiful, well made boat. Probably much heavier than the old version?? Marketing is quite often a problem with small companies. When was the last time you saw a decent size ad for Allison?? They're usually at the back of the magazine with the portable garage and boat sticker ads. Clyde, You look pretty good in that boat. Must go with the name.:cool: Clyde

[PaulR]

Here's the nicest pic you will ever see of a Hydrostream..or so I'm told? Just kidding??

[redFish]

Jim may be lacking in the promotional department but boy, does he build a killer product!! ...100+ mph with lightning 28 et!!
redFish

[blkmtrfan]

Post some more pics if you have them :cool:

[Clyde]

Red fish,

Is that a anniversary Vegas! I love it! Beautiful!

Paul,

I told you more than once how your old V-king was just "right". Now if we could only get you back out of those "tunnel training wheels" and in a new Stream...LOL

Tripledude,

Ditto.....:cool:

P.S. I'm with blkmtrfan, more photo's of the Vegas!

[redFish]

Ya, it's an anniversary edition Vegas, hence the special paint job and upholstry colors. It was sure my favorite when I visited Jim in TN last fall! Has 6" hydraulic detweiler jackplate. I'll be putting on a ski pylon in the next couple days so we'll see how it handles skiiers, too. The Vegas seems to handle the extra weight of the 300x without a problem....lots of torque.
Sorry, that's the only picture I have available at the time. Will post some more soon!
redFish

[stevek]

Nice looking boat redFish. Hard to beat a boat that will carry you to 100 and is 21' too.

[redFish]

stevek,
the vegas is 20'2" long and weighs 1050-1100 pounds w/o motor.
redFish

[redFish]

The Vegas has mfg rating of 300 hp so I'm 100% legal both with local gustapo and Insurance Co.
redFish

[Stream 1]

I will agree with some of the things said in this post, but many of you do not understand what it takes in dollars and time to re-start a company like Hydro Stream. Start up companies, which we are, regardless of the Hydro Stream history, run through money without end. We are a very small company at this time, with only a handful of employees, which all have multiple jobs. We have for the past 2 years worked on developing new products in all areas, design, engineering, lamination,, rigging . . . the list goes on and on. We believe that the first step is to develope a GOOD, modern product line built with the most upto date processes available. Two years ago we did not have a plant, equipment, . . . again the list is endless.

For those who have visited us, you know we are a working manufacturer now, who is still deeply entrenched in R&D and product developement. We work with a handful of dedicated employees, most who work over 10 hours a day. I have never said I have all the answers to this project, and this project has become 10 times larger than I expected. We are way over budget but have continued to follow a fully developed business plan which does include a marketing plan. Hopefully all of you will begin to see our marketing efforts develope for the 2005 model year. While it may seem hard to believe, we currently run a manufacturing backlog even with our lack of marketing. I believe one of the worst things we could do is over sell our ability to produce or grow too quickly, which could eat up cash reserves or end up with product going out that door that is not up to my standards.

In closing this off, all I can say is I understand the frustration you all see from the outside, stand in my shoes, with hundreds of thousands of dollars invested and at stake. Spend every day trying to keep this huge project on course with limited funds available.

Chad, you indicated that performance outboarding has declined dramatically, and that is true. Price point of todays products have taken a huge toll on our sport, but when I read your post and look at the competition, I know we are selling more boats and are more proactive within our nitch than any of the competition. The reason for our success, no matter how small, is ALL of our products are new, fresh, and well built, in todays market you can not succeed any other way. Additional, Hydro Stream can not promote performance outboarding back into the lime light. We can only diversify our product line and promote our concept of what a GOOD boat should be.

My final statement; if anyone things they can do better, belly up to the bar with your checkbook and make me an offer. Its completely differient when you own something like Hydro Stream. Seems to me, Hydro Stream was closed for over 6 years and no one took on the challenge to bring back one of the GREATEST names in performance boating. I may still fail, and daily I worry about that. But at the end, what ever happens, at least I tried. If I fail there will be plenty of couch quarterbacks with the answers to my failure and I guess if I suceed, I'm just a really lucky guy!

[Morgan B]

You Rock!

[Ted March]

right on the head.

[pyro]

Jim-
I commend you for all your efforts. You've worked hard, and I hear that you're building an incredible product. A apologize for my "attacking" tone. I love the performance outboard sport. It is a passion that we both share. I want to see it grow, so that my kids will be able to experience it even better than I have. I let my emotions get away from me sometimes.

I understand the money thing. It's hard to grow when you're starting small. I also think that enough drops in the bucket will eventually fill it up. A new accessory and clothing line could generate a significant amount of income to help the company grow. I'm willing to bet that almost every Hydrostream owner on this board, both old and new, would be ready and willing to buy at least one clothing item and/or a couple of stickers, to show our love for the sport and the brand name that defines it. :D A small batch at first, just to see how they sell. T-shirts with the script "Hydrostream Performance Boats" logo on both sides would be awesome. Maybe some hats? I would love to get my hands on a huge 30" wide windshield decal!

When will we see the Hydrostream line-up at the Detroit Boat Show? There's a huge market up here for the product. There's a lot of wealthy folks in the suburbs who would gladly lay down a big deposit, even if they had to wait six months to see the fruits of your labor.

Jim, let me know if there's anything I can do to help. It would give me a warm, fuzzy feeling if I could help your business grow, and help you show the world what a real performance boat is all about.

-Chad
mgrklein@sbcglobal.net <== (workplace, weekdays)

[Binger]

I agree with Chad, Im new to the Hydrostream scene but like i said in a earlier post I have addmired the boat since i was a child, now i have one I am over wellemed with the amazzing piece of machinery it really is, you have my support. Quality is beter than quantity.

[tripledude]

Thanks for the update and best of luck in your endeavors. If ya wanted to spread the word in my area, just ship me a fully rigged ride and I'll try to help you out.;) Seriously, as I mentioned before, I saw the bowrider at the Rumble last year. Impressive boat but was just mixed in with the rest of the attendees. Bring some more samples this year with a booth. You could probably sell a bunch of shirts also. I was just down for the drags in Winchester and saw an Allison booth for the first time. They were showing their $50k new fishing boat. Lots of lookers. I don't even own an Allison but bought a shirt anyway. I promise I'll buy one of yours also.:)