Hydrostream Vampire history

**Tom Smyth** · 12-22-2017, 07:59 AM

So when you learn something every day, it is a good day. Hydrostream made no VAMPIRE model. The hull in question was built by Vampire Boats Corp, started by Jack Lewis. Supposedly a splashed hull from a 13' Allison and a deck of his own design. Built near Joliet Illinois? Long out of business. Ken yes I have contacted the owner of that boat in the pics.

Thanks everyone for their help and comments.

**FUJIMO** · 12-23-2017, 12:39 PM

**FUJIMO** · 12-23-2017, 01:01 PM

**FUJIMO** · 12-23-2017, 01:16 PM

Late 60's to early 70's Vampire was built in Minooka, Illinois by Jack Lewis. During this time, Ron Baker was working with Jack to improve the boats design for racing, while producing more boats. The improvements led to the 15' Banshee, using the same, but improved Allison derived hull. The Vampire molds were sold & relocated to St. Paul, Minnesota and built by Mic Malbrehder, under the name of PaceCraft, into the late 70's. I should have been more clear with this, in my earlier response. The exact same boat & molds can produce you a new boat today, if anyone is interested, simply by inquiring to the current owners of the original molds, Vampire Corporation Boats. You want contact info, let me know. Yeah, that HydroStream thing threw me for a second, lol.

**DanUmbarger** · 12-23-2017, 01:16 PM

Is this one of the newer boats Jeff baker is supposed to have made in Minnesota? For some reason...in the back of my head...I seem to remember his dad (Ron) used to run a Vampire with an OMC in the early days...I may be all wrong though.

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

**DanUmbarger** · 12-23-2017, 01:19 PM

Sorry FUJIMO...I guess you and I were typing at the same time

**FUJIMO** · 12-23-2017, 01:21 PM

I could be wrong Dan, but if I remember, the father/son boats are extremely simular. There was a bit of a deck change, way back. They never, in no way, looked like an Allison deck. The use of an Allison hull, as-is or slightly changed, all different lengths, etc., has been going on for ever. Storm Bass Boats comes to mind. Steve Stepp buying a set of original 20' Allison molds & building jet boats out of them, come to mind...and on & on. All the HydroStream designs made by Action Marine, R.A.T. Boats, Concept Marine, Jay Pilini's Motion Marine, Hustler Bass Boats, & all the rest. What's old...CAN be new again, lol.

**DanUmbarger** · 12-23-2017, 01:35 PM

Your right...Jack only splashed the hull (with some mods ) and made his own deck...that red boat earlier in the post looks exactly how I remember the Vampires...in fact that easily could be one of Ron's old boats. It does look like Jeff either used the same molds or popped a new set off an older Vampire to make the newer version. Brings back memories! Locally we used to run our Hustlers against the Vampires,Switzers,Checkmates,Allisons and I'm sure more that just slips my mind.

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

I could be wrong Dan, but if I remember, the father/son boats are extremely simular. There was a bit of a deck change, way back. They never, in no way, looked like an Allison deck.

**vintage v4** · 12-24-2017, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

Late 60's to early 70's Vampire was built in Minooka, Illinois by Jack Lewis. During this time, Ron Baker was working with Jack to improve the boats design for racing, while producing more boats. The improvements led to the 15' Banshee, using the same, but improved Allison derived hull. The Vampire molds were sold & relocated to St. Paul, Minnesota and built by Mic Malbrehder, under the name of PaceCraft, into the late 70's. I should have been more clear with this, in my earlier response. The exact same boat & molds can produce you a new boat today, if anyone is interested, simply by inquiring to the current owners of the original molds, Vampire Corporation Boats. You want contact info, let me know. Yeah, that HydroStream thing threw me for a second, lol.

Mic Halbrehder