Gozzard was raised in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, where he apprenticed as a carpenter-joiner and gradually earned his journeyman’s papers in boat building, masonry and carpentry.
[2] In the Caribbean the Gozzard and family experienced multihull sailing for the first time, enjoying the speed combined with space and shoal draft.
[2] When the family moved back to Canada, Gozzard designed and built the 45 feet (14 m) trimaran, Manta in London, Ontario.
[3] Gozzard had built this trimaran for the sole purpose of returning to the Bahamas aboard a boat with good living space for a family of four and a tutor.
[4]In 1970 Gozzard became involved with designing and building a schooner named Twilight which was built on the waterfront in Bayfield.
Gozzard also offered to modify any aspect of a Bayfield boat for an existing owner as part of his design services, at no charge.
In 2009 Gozzard suffered a stroke but remained active in the business, coming into the office three days a week.