William Garden
William Garden, CM (1918-2011) was a Canadian-American naval architect and marine engineer whose six-decade career encompassed fishing vessels, tugboats, and yachts. A Member of the Order of Canada, he mentored Greg Marshall and influenced Pacific Northwest design.
Pacific Northwest Legend
William Garden was born in Calgary, Alberta in 1918 and moved to Oregon and Washington as a child. After studying boat building at Seattle's Edison Technical School, he worked at Andrew's Boat Company on Portage Bay, producing over 50 vessel designs by age 24. Following WWII service at an Alaskan army ship repair facility, he became a licensed naval architect and established his own design shop in Washington before moving to Victoria, BC in the late 1960s, working from his private island Toad's Landing.
Six Decades of Design
Garden's career spanned six decades designing commercial fishing vessels, tugboats, and both motor and sailing yachts. His practical approach and diverse portfolio established him as a master of the profession. In 2006, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions as 'an accomplished naval architect and marine engineer'.
Mentorship and Legacy
Garden profoundly influenced the next generation, notably mentoring a 15-year-old Greg Marshall who would become Gregory C. Marshall Naval Architect. Marshall spent six years under Garden's tutelage, absorbing the skills and practical approach that shaped his own successful career. Garden died April 29, 2011 at age 92.
