Willard 36 Custom 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 Custom 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.

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. More about Bill Garden and the Vega 36.

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."

Downloads:

Vega 36 Custom Cruiser Brochure
Vega 36 Series Brochure (High Rez -- 7 MB) (pdf files)
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	ex-Malaya
1962	6	Calcite ex-Kuiu Sadly, this boat was destroyed in a fire at Bellingham Marina on March 30, 2012	Bellingham, WA	ex-Vaya Con Dios, Mimi II, Caracola ON 563300 Reg: 36x11.7x6.5; GT:18 NT:14
1962	7			ex-Blue Horizon
1962	8	Victoria	VA	ex-Gitanna, Teddy T, Carosam, Lileo; ON 537059; Reg: 36x11.6x7.6; GT:21 NT:16 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	(Photo: www.flickr.com)
1963	24	Island Seeker	Boston
1963	25
1964	26	Leona	SW
1964	27	Tlaloc	Mexico
1965	28	Damtootin	Mapleton, MN	ON:299028; Reg: 33.2x11.6x7.6; GT:20 NT:14
1965	29	Baco	Whiskey Creek, NC	ex-Cheers; ON:501037; Reg: 33.2x11.6x7.6; GT:20 NT:15
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 Taras, the last Willard 36