William Garden designs

Perusing Craigslist as I am inclined to do, I came across these boats (Disclaimer, I have no affiliation) I am struck with the notion that WG was way ahead of his time.


40' Downeast Express - Bill Garden
Wooden 46 Sailboat William Garden
58' Philbrooke/ Garden Pilothouse- 1970

I particularly like the Downeast express and the sailboat with the raised salon.

Here's a Bill Garden boat from my neck of the woods. Puffer.

Mystic Seaport lists 675 of his designs in their collection. There are a tremendous number and types of boats where he was a pioneer. I guess the nearest to a protege of Garden is probably Greg Marshall.

In Motoryachts, Westport still uses many Garden designs. The Pacific Mariners, both 65 and 85 were his designs and the 85 is still sold. Also the 130 was his design and the 164 is his and Taylor Olson's. I am a big fan of all four of those boats.

For his collection:

William Garden Collection An Inventory of The Collection in the Daniel S. Gregory Ships Plans Library, Mystic Seaport

Also there are some books he authored of his designs with great commentary by him. Just terribly expensive.

My Willard 36 is a Garden design and I can attest to the fact he knew what he was doing.

Brooksie said:

My Willard 36 is a Garden design and I can attest to the fact he knew what he was doing.

Click to expand...

It's great to read some of his ideas. He was eccentric enough to be a genius too. For instance he would go through periods in which he'd refuse to answer phone calls and wouldn't return calls to those he didn't know. He essentially was 20 years ahead on trawlers but then he also disliked what he considered water pushers in other styles, the tendency toward building boats wide and maximizing volume. He preferred performance and thought slim was best for that.

Here is a video of him in his workshop.

Bill Garden's Workshop - YouTube

BandB said:

but then he also disliked what he considered water pushers in other styles, the tendency toward building boats wide and maximizing volume.

Click to expand...

Well, I guess my fat Manatee wasn't on his list of desire-ables. I love his designs, none-the-less.

I'm quite sure these are both Garden boats too.

Shot both pics in Petersburg AK.

Brooksie I wish Willard had built a 32' version of the 36.