Willard 36 Standard Cruiser
The Willard Vega 36 was designed by Bill Garden and introduced in 1961. Production ran until 1970. 39 hulls were produced during those 9 years with hull numbers from 1 to 40. Hull number 13 was not used.
The Standard Cruiser was the most popular version. This version was a "sedan" style with flybridge above, on the boat deck. A total of 28 were built. There is a single stateroom forward in the bow with head. A starboard linear galley is included in the saloon. This version is valued for its huge stern cockpit for lounging, fishing, and hanging out. There are many fine examples still in use today.
Note: Hull Numbers from 1 to 25 were built by Vega Marine Corporation and marketed as the "Vega 36", with actual construction subcontracted to Willard Marine. Hulls 26 on were then built by Willard as the "Willard Vega 36."
Original Vega 36 plans drawn by William Garden (his Design No. 437) are in the Collection at Mystic Seaport Museum, Catalog #96.355 - Design #437, and copies may be purchased through them.
Downloads:
- Willard 36 Brochure (pdf file)
- Vega Marine 36-ft Diesel, by William Garden (pdf file)
- Garden Design #437 Drawing List
- Willard 36 Newsletters from 1965-1969
Note: These were memeographed copies that were very hard to read. They have been scanned using character recognition software along with manual editing to make them as readable as possible, although there are a few spots that were completely unreadable.
A listing of the 28 Standard Cruiser models follows:
| Year | Hull No | Name | Location | Comments |
| 1961 |
1 | Rattler | San Fransisco | ex-Alpha Lyra; ON 507671 Reg: 36x11.7x6.5; GT:18 NT:14 |
| 1961 | 2 | Vega II | New Iberia, LA. |  Currently undergoing an extensive refit following hurricane damage in 2004. |
| 1962 |
3 | |||
| 1962 |
4 | Linco | S. America and Galapagos veteran. | |
| 1962 |
5 | |||
| 1962 | 6 | Calcite ex-Kuiu | Bellingham, WA |
|
| 1962 |
7 | ex-Blue Horizon | ||
| 1962 | 8 | Victoria | VA |
Willard provided a history to a new owner in 1970: <here> |
| 1962 |
9 | |||
| 1962 |
10 | Ex-Tranquilizer III | ||
| 1962 |
12 | Broadbill | Portsmouth, RI | ON542587; Reg: 36x11.7x4; GT:11 NT:8 |
| 1962 | 14 | Old Salt | E. Palatka, FL |  ex-Ozymandias; ON656327; Reg: 36x11.8x6; GT:17 NT:13 |
| 1962 |
15 |  Ex-Teresa (Model above is in Museum of Puget Sound.) |
||
| 1963 |
16 | Ex-Nepenthe | ||
| 1963 | 18 |
Saga |
Bellingham, WA |  ex-Tangueray; ON967921; Reg: 36x12x9; GT:26 NT:20 |
| 1963 |
20 | |||
| 1963 | 22 | Lorelei | Wilmington, NC |
|
| 1963 |
24 | Island Seeker | Boston |  |
| 1963 |
25 | |||
| 1964 |
26 | Leona | SW | |
| 1964 |
27 | ex-Tlaloc | ||
| 1965 |
28 | Damtootin | Mapleton, MN | ON:299028; Reg: 33.2x11.6x7.6; GT:20 NT:14 |
| 1965 |
29 | Cheers | FL | |
| 1965 |
30 | SE | ||
| 1966 |
32 | ex-Nina | ||
| 1967 | 34 | Julie Ann | Gig Harbor, WA |  ex-Kathy K, Sophia, Santa Bavaria; ON509527; 36x11.6x7.6; GT:21 NT:16 |
| 1967 |
35 | Nokken | San Fransisco | ex-Cabo Moon; ON1059736 36.3x12x5.5 GT:16 NT:12 |
| 1972 | 40 | Weebles | San Fransisco |  ex-Shy Platypus, Taras; ON 526451 Reg: 36x11.7x7.6; GT:21 NT:17 |
Please use the Contact form if you have any corrections or additions for this list.