Bill Page recently alerted me to this video – an excerpt from “Throwbacks to a Golden Age of Northwest Boats” – that features our mutual and very dear friend Bill Garden who died in 2011 at the age of 92. Garden was 87 in the video, and hearing his voice brought back wonderful memories. After you view the video, take a look at the photos of SERIANNA, Bill Page’s 38′ troller/cruiser built to one of Bill Garden’s designs, with some owner tweaking here and there. At the end, you’ll find my writeup, done soon after Bill Garden died.
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Walter Ratcliffe says:
A friend, who was a WW II veteran and the Chief Pilot of Air Canada in Montreal in the early 1970’s, Charlie Skelding, and his wife Lorraine had Bill Garden design a gorgeous west coast style double-ended trawler, Hawse Bay, which they built at the Royal St Lawrence Yacht Club in Montreal. They cruised it between Florida in winters and the 1000 Islands and Rideau Canal in summers for many years. A beautiful cruising yacht designed for the two of them. Hawse Bay was sold in the 1980’s. I would be interested to know what happened to her.
bill wilson says:
I own a 1966 Tartan 27 that I’ve been “rehabbing” for several years. Despite almost constant questioning of “why” I just can’t give up on her. I live within walking distance of the Chesapeake Bay and wish I could find a place to keep her close to home. Being on the hard in a marina is not ideal for me. I didn’t start out with any special skills, so need to have plenty of reference materials around. Lately I’ve stopped describing my madness as a restoration, more like a rebuild. She was produced in an era before there was ABYC, so nothing on her met any specifications. I’ve basically had to redo every system. I know way more about the Atomic 4 engine she came with than most people and have refused to give up on the engine. A local deisel mechanic who I knew would telll me “she’s just a hunk of iron”. I say all of this to describe how I can identify with people who are just crazy about boats. We’re a strange lot, but there is no place that I would rather be than messing around with my old boat.
Great video.
Steven Gordon says:
What a great video and story. I wish I could have met Bill. I completed a Tom Cat in 2016. Part of what attracted me to that boat were his playful drawings in his accompanying book, The Making of Tom Cat. Those drawings brought back to me the youthful joy I’ve always felt for little boats. Thanks Maynard.
Robert Gibson says:
Wish the video was longer, I love his work and have just started Tom Cat. I have enjoyed every bit of the processes so far. I wish I could find more of his plans and designs for sale.
Maynard Bray says:
You probably already know that Bill’s drawings are at Mystic Seaport. Copies can be purchased from that institution. Many of his drawings were published in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s in yachting magazines. And then, of course, there are his books entitled Yacht Designs, Volume I and II. Someday, I hope OffCenterHarbor can do more with Bill Garden’s wonderful designs.
Good luck with your Tom Cat. I have the original here in Brooklin, so let me know if there are any details you need from it.
Douglas Lee says:
Wow, what a gift this post and video are. I have always enjoyed the boats and designs of Bill Garden (proud owner of an Eel canoe yawl now) for the way they capture the hearty, honest beauty of the Pacific Northwest in an almost lyrical way. Never thought I would be able to see him give an interview on camera or catch a glimpse of Toad’s Landing. This is piece of maritime history. Thanks very much!
David Tew says:
Nice to see his Tom Cat featured!
Bill Conlyn says:
You are really blessed to find something you are on fire to do and you are are good at it. That about sums up my life. I have been fortunate enough to have been blessed with the talent that I love.
I too would like to have known Bill Garden. My boat neighbor named his sailboat ” Grrrr!”
John Simlett says:
The sort of guy I wish I’d known. Great video.
Philip Myer says:
I just looked at his book, to my earlier comments I add that his drawn hull perspectives are truly outstanding.
Philip Myer says:
Wonderful Video and story, I have his book- ‘Yacht Designs’ His drafting is superb and his wonderful sketched figures are a true artistic flourish. Thanks Maynard.