Captain Dennis Davern of Natalie Wood Boat -- I Was REALLY Drunk

The captain of the boat where Natalie Wood spent the last moments of her life was extremely drunk during the critical moments before and after she went missing ... this according to the Captain himself.

Capt. Dennis Davern told us on TMZ Live ... he drank a lot of scotch and wine in the hours leading up to Natalie's disappearance. What's more ... Davern says Robert Wagner plied him with liquor in the hours after she vanished. In spite of the heavy drinking, Davern says his memory of the evening is clear.