Gilbert's relation with his father is strong, though it may be presented as complicated, as his father used to stay away at the sea for the majority of the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the story, "Another Place, Another Time", Gilbert is presented as a young boy, who despises time, as it is time which comes in the way of his father and him. His father stays away at the sea for long and Gilbert has to spend that time just waiting.
When his father dies, he again blames time as he wants all the time back which he spent with his father.
Hence, it is these incidents that represent that he has a strong bond with his father.