BLACK DAVE is a delightful 28ft wooden cruiser based on classic troller fishing boats. Just a baby in true “classic” terms, Black Dave was built in 1996 out of Sydney on Vancouver Island, by Laurie Armstrong, under the watchful eye of Bill Garden to ensure his classic POLYWOG design was realized in every detail. Black Dave was owned for many years by naval architect Greg Marshall, also very familiar with Garden’s watchful eye, having been tutored by the master boat designer from the tender age of 15, until he was 21. A condition of sale was that Black Dave’s name must never be changed. Black Dave was Bill Garden’s trusty mechanic, and so the story goes, not only was he always covered in oil, he also had a dark side and a penchant for ladies and liquor.

Below deck to starboard is a steering station with galley to aft, housing a Dickinson diesel cooking stove, sink and storage lockers. Portside is a small dinette / guest bunk with raised storage boxes underneath, followed by the head at the after end of the pilot house. Below, forward is the comfortable, roomy V-berth, perfect for stargazing on the hook. The 3ft draft makes for easy anchoring is shallow bays.

Outside, the cockpit is accessed from the rear of the cabin, with a port-side steering station and fold-away teak standing platform. Or better still, steer from the pilot house roof to take in the 360 views.

Generous passenger seating right across the transom turns the cockpit into an out door living space to while away the hours lounging or jumping off the swim grid, At the forward end of the cockpit the engine room is opened up via a large hatch, and is filled with a mighty marine Hino WO4, 4 cylinder diesel, surely over powered for this daring little cruiser, but reassuringly will always get you out of trouble.

BLACK DAVE is a real head turner, and has been lovingly maintained by current owner Liz, who cruises the BC Coast during the summer. BLACK DAVE also works for his keep, providing a free ferry service to guests staying at the owner’s off-grid private island in the heart of the Sunshine Coast. 

Propulsion: 

• US Marine Hino 4-cylinder W04D S#A14442
• 110 horsepower engine installed with estimated 3000+ hours reported
• Engine controlled by two station enclosed cable controls
• 3 blade bronze 19RH20 propellor
• Cruises at 7 knots