Yachting Monthly
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Nicholson 32: an ocean-going pedigree that lasts
- Duncan Kent
- March 8, 2021
Built entirely out of GRP, the Nicholson 32’s ocean-going pedigree remains desirable to this day, says Duncan Kent
A long keel and heavy displacement makes the Nicholson 32 ideal for coastal and offshore cruising. Credit: Genevieve Leaper
Product Overview
Manufacturer:.
The primary design considerations for the Nicholson 32 were to produce an easily handled yacht of moderate dimensions, capable of a sea-kindly sailing performance in all conditions.
She was to have the classic looks of a traditional wooden yacht but was in fact one of the first offshore cruisers to be built entirely out of GRP, to a high specification and enviable build quality.
A little history of the Nicholson 32
The Nicholson 32 was a development of the successful South Coast One Design (SCOD) and other proven Charles Nicholson designs like the nine-tonner, Jolina .
Charles’ son, Peter, believed demand for custom yachts was dwindling and glass-fibre production yachts were the future.
The Nicholson 32 had to meet three criteria.
It had to be about 32ft (9.7m) long, easy to build and cost less than £5,000 at the time.
The hulls were moulded by Halmatic in Portsmouth and mainly fitted out by Camper & Nicholson.
For maximum strength and integrity, the hull, deck, ballast, bulkheads and furniture were all bonded together.
Most have suffered from osmosis over the years and many will have been peeled, dried and re-gelled.
The Nicholson 32 was one of the first yachts designed for GRP production. Credit: Simon Braunholtz
Make sure the cost of any osmosis remedial work is reflected in the price.
The marque went through 11 model upgrades, including some quite major redesigns.
The 1963 Mk I models (1-6) had mahogany joinery and individually built furniture.
A few changes were made for the Mk II (7-10), most importantly aluminium spars.
A good many more additions were made to the Mk III (11-40) and the Mk IV yachts (41-87), including a cockpit sole engine hatch, U-bolt chainplates, aluminium framed windows and a teak interior.
By 1966, the Mk V boat (88-111) was in production with numerous enhancements to the engine compartment and a stainless-steel fuel tank.
Further refurbishments to the interior, including replacing the pilot berth with a pull-out double, denoted the Mk VI (112-147) and Mk VII (148-190) yachts, while the Mk VIII (191-236) models had new windows and hatches.
There was no Mk IX but the Mk X (237-329) underwent major modernisation and restyling.
The freeboard was raised 3in/75mm, enabling the coachroof to be lowered and the windows redesigned.
Her cockpit was enlarged by removing the afterdeck, increasing her length to 10m/33ft, and the offset companionway was moved to the centreline.
Myriad other modifications were incorporated, including new scuppers, bow roller, locker drains and handrails, a better 12-volt electrical system and the interior was again updated.
In 1977, Halmatic built another 40 Mk XI models, after modifications to make it cheaper to build.
They introduced GRP furniture modules, a restyled galley, a quarterberth behind a forward-facing chart table and optional wheel steering.
Down below on the Nicholson 32
Early models had a basic layout.
The positioning of the water and fuel tanks above the keel left plenty of stowage beneath the bunks.
She had comfortable twin berths in the forepeak and two 1.93m/6ft 4in straight settees in the saloon, plus a pilot berth above the port settee.
From the Mk IV the latter was removed and replaced by a double, formed by sliding a board out from under the settee.
It wasn’t until the Mk X model that she gained a quarterberth.
The heads were forward of the saloon, with a sink opposite.
Sliding both forecabin and saloon doors closed gave privacy and plenty of room for washing.
The galley on older models is basic with a single sink. Credit: Bob Aylott
The original galley was pretty rudimentary, with a non-gimballing Primus stove and a single sink with hand-pumped cold water.
Stowage was reasonable, though, and most will have been upgraded by owners.
Headroom is 1.83m/6ft throughout the saloon/galley area.
The chart table was originally a longitudinal, stand-at affair, but was later (Mk X+) moved to port, turned sideways and used the settee as a seat.
That allowed the galley to be enlarged to take a gimballed cooker. On deck Her cockpit is roomy and high coamings keep the spray out and crew in.
Stepping out onto the side decks is safe as they are wide and uncluttered.
The coachroof-mounted handrails are well within reach as far as the shrouds and her raised, teak-capped gunwales provide good foot bracing.
There were originally difficulties with moulded-in stanchion sockets, causing the decks to craze if any substantial sideways pressure was put on them.
The MK IV has a teak interior. Credit: Bob Aylott
Separate metal bases were used in later models.
The foredeck is roomy thanks to her broad shoulders and pre-1972 models have a moulded recess to accommodate a Danforth anchor.
This intruded into the forecabin quite noticeably, along with the chain pipe taking the rode down to a chain locker beneath the bunk.
The recess was finally removed in the Mk XI and replaced with a self-stowing, stemhead anchor roller for a CQR.
Her running rigging is simple, with long genoa tracks atop the bulwarks leading to large primary winches aside the helm.
Pre-Mk X models had the mainsheet track along the afterdeck, which was later moved to just abaft the rudder stock.
Rig & sails
All models were masthead rigged with a relatively short mast and a full set of stout shrouds.
Silver anodised masts from Proctors were installed from the Mk II model onwards and had a single set of straight spreaders.
Every model is masthead rigged. Credit: Genevieve Leaper
She came with several hanked-on headsails at first, but a furling genoa was later provided as standard instead.
Some had an optional inner forestay (often removeable) for rigging a storm jib.
Her well-balanced seakeeping qualities and comfortable motion were accomplished by giving her a heavy displacement, long overhangs, a full keel and a 50% ballast ratio.
A 24ft waterline, broad shoulders and high wetted surface area means she isn’t particularly quick in modern terms, especially in light airs, but that said she is stiff, stands up well to full sail, is relatively light on the helm and exhibits very little leeway.
Her bluff bows and relatively broad shoulders can make her baulk sailing close-hauled in heavy seas, but usually freeing her off a few degrees cures the problem.
The stepped coachroof on the Mk IV gives extra headroom. Credit: Bob Aylott
Her buoyant bow sections can produce a tendency to yaw downwind, so many advise adding some ballast up forward.
The combination of her short mast, hefty lead ballast, full keel and buoyant hull means she rarely heels beyond a comfortable ‘lean’.
Her barn door-style rudder can induce a little weather helm when pushed, but in mitigation the rudder never loses its bite, meaning she’s unlikely to broach in big seas.
Under power
Originally a 29hp diesel Watermota Sea Panther provided the power.
Like all long-keelers the Nicholson 32 was awful going astern under power.
The trick was to build up a little speed some way off where you wanted to end up and then knock it out of gear using the speed through the water to steer.
Too much speed, though, and the tiller would be ripped out of your hands!
Owners’ experiences
S/Y Fals Cappa (Mk VII, HN 171, LD 1969)
Alan Thorne, 63, has owned the five berth Mk VII model for 10 years and says she’s a delight to sail.
Under his ownership he has carried out numerous improvements, including upgrading the headsail winches to self-tailing, adding spinnaker winches and Aries wind vane steering, plus many of the usual upgrades to modernise the electronics.
He has also removed the furling headsail in favour of hank-on sails.
Fals Cappa has hank-on sails. Credit: Alan Thorne
Fals Cappa had already had her engine replaced when he purchased her.
‘I have found no faults in the design or construction,’ he notes.
Now widowed, he sails singlehanded along the East and South Coast, as well as to France, Belgium and Holland.
Asked how she sails, Alan says: ‘Wonderful! She sails like a dinghy, beautifully balanced, secure and reassuring in all sea conditions that I’ve encountered. Cuts through waves while other yachts are slamming or rounding up.
‘With an autopilot and wind vane a Nicholson 32 is a delight to sail single-handed. During the past couple of years, I have raced her single-handed too and thoroughly enjoyed it, although changing hank-on headsails mid-race is a tad exciting on short legs!’
S/Y Ballyhoo (Mk VIII, HN 203, LD 1970)
Sandy, 76 and Josephine, 72 Tyndale-Biscoe have owned Ballyhoo since 1999, and now keep her in Falmouth.
The couple both learned to sail dinghies as children.
Sandy also sailed the RNE Manadon college’s Morgan Giles 43 yachts when he was in the Royal Navy.
‘We were given an Albacore after we married, but found that small children and large, high-performance dinghies do not really mix. So, after some years canalling in a narrowboat, we bought Vin Rosé , a British Folkboat with a doghouse,’ says Sandy.
The couple have also owned a Fisher 25 Freeward before buying Ballyhoo at the Lymington Used Boat Show.
The Nicholson 32 had 11 model upgrades. Credit: Sandy & Josephine Tyndale-Biscoe
‘She is, I think, unique in having a deck-stepped mast. We replaced her engine with a 24hp Beta Marine in 2014. Otherwise,’ Sandy says, ‘she is original. We have found no faults beyond the usual wear and tear common in any boat of her age.
‘ Ballyhoo has plenty of sail for the conditions where we sail. I generally use the Nº1 jib and take a reef above 12kts true wind. Once, during a Channel crossing in a westerly Force 6, the jib furler jammed, so we dropped the main and proceeded under genoa alone.
‘Unable to cross the Chichester Bar for three hours forced us to beat up the Solent for shelter. Discovering that Ballyhoo would sail to windward under genoa alone in such conditions gave us enormous confidence. I like the security of knowing that she is able to stand up to practically anything the weather can throw at her.’
S/Y Hy-Brasail (Mk IV, HN 85, LD 1965)
Simon Braunholtz, 62, has owned Hy-Brasail for eight years, in which time he has fitted a removable inner forestay and a diesel heater.
Before crossing the Atlantic, her previous owner led all lines into the cockpit to simplify reefing.
‘When I bought her there were leaky deck fittings and windows, which we fixed. Hy-Brasail has the pilot berth behind the port settee, which Simon says, ‘is an excellent berth for off-watch crew and extremely useful for stowing bags on passage.’
A flexible water tank in the forepeak feeds a foot-pump at the galley and the previous owner fitted a fridge.
She has a wind generator to keep the batteries topped up.’
For several years Simon kept Hy-Brasail in Scotland before moving her to Falmouth and finally Devon.
All lines on Hy-Brasail lead into the cockpit to simplify reefing. Credit: Simon Braunholtz
‘The Nicholson 32 is a lovely boat to sail. Her deep long hull with over three tonnes of lead ballast takes her through seas without bouncing around or slapping the water, although her low freeboard means the toe-rails sometimes get wet. She is comfortable for two, although comfort is a relative term. She was built at a time when people wanted adventure on the water, rather than a chilled Chardonnay tied to a pontoon.
‘The Bukh 24 engine has proven reliable, with regular maintenance. Motoring backwards is “interesting”, but I’ve become accustomed to it.’
Simon also owns a 1970 Mk VIII model, Splashdown (HN 212), moored on the west coast of Scotland.
‘The main difference is she has no pilot berth so the settee is set further back. The additional space makes her more comfortable than Hy-Brasail and the cabin table is larger.
‘She is equipped with radar, AIS, a chartplotter, wind generator and an Aries wind vane, which I have rebuilt. Being previously kept in the Mediterranean, she also has a hatch in the main cabin to improve airflow.’
What the experts say about the Nicholson 32
Nick Vass, Marine Surveyor B,Sc B,Ed HND FRINA MCMS DipMarSur YS
www.omega-yachtservices.co.uk
A proper-looking yacht with more freeboard (and therefore dryer) than other Folkboat-inspired yachts such as the Contessa 32 and Twister.
A handsome boat with grown up gunwales and a proper long keel.
Joinery was made to a very high standard and these up-market yachts were equipped with good quality seacocks and deck furniture.
The Nicholson 32 enjoyed a very long production run and evolved through many models and updates.
The defect that I discover most frequently on them is osmosis.
Full-blown, proper inter-laminate osmosis and not the ‘almost osmosis’ that you find between the laminate and layers of gelcoat on a Westerly, for instance. I commonly find osmosis with other Halmatic boats, such as Nelson motor cruisers and pilot boats.
It could be that Halmatic used the same resins as Westerly at the time, which also suffer.
Continues below…
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Another theory is that, whilst obsessed with attaining and keeping Lloyds A1 Scantling Certification, Halmatic tended to over-consolidate the resins into the chopped strand glass-fibre matting and cloth, leaving them a little dry.
Saying that, just about all Nicholsons and Halmatic yachts that have suffered from blistering will have been treated by now.
If buying one, look out for blistering as epoxy treatment only tends to last around 10 years.
The last Nicholson 32 I surveyed still had its original Watermota Sea Panther 30hp engine.
It wouldn’t start so the broker called a young marine engineer to get it going.
He looked at me in disbelief when I told him it was a Ford Consul/Cortina petrol engine with a diesel cylinder head!
He thought that I was messing with him when I further explained that the starter motor was not powerful enough to get a diesel going so there was a special switch to join the batteries in series so they whacked out 24 volts.
Although Watermota engines are actually very good (the company is still making engines in Devon), most of these will have been replaced by now.
Deck joints and stem head fittings have been known to part on some models, but most are likely to have been rectified already.
Ben Sutcliffe-Davies, Marine Surveyor and full member of the Yacht Brokers Designers & Surveyors Association (YDSA)
Ben Sutcliffe- Davies has been in the marine industry for over 40 years as a long- time boat builder, has been surveying craft for over 20 years and is a Full Member of the YDSA.
www.bensutcliffemarine.co.uk
I’ve had the pleasure of surveying many of these well-built yachts.
The issues of moisture are common in all of them although the ones I’ve dealt with haven’t been particularly deep, as most of the boats built by Halmatic had clear resins that generally don’t absorb moisture in the same way as pigmented resin.
As they are predominantly laminated from chop strand, any moisture will be held longer due to the short glass filament strands.
I’ve had no issues with the encapsulated fin keel and ballast incorporated within its lower forward production.
The GRP rudder was hung from the end of her keel moulding and suitably supported.
But I have had a few loose bronze cast shoes, and fastenings should be checked for moisture ingress.
Lastly, be aware that some older boats I’ve surveyed have had a gas locker that drains below the waterline, which will need a rethink.
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For owners and enthusiasts of the go-anywhere classic cruising yacht
A sailing classic
About the nicholson 32, a brief history of the marque.
The Nicholson 32 was designed in 1961/62 by Peter Nicholson. The hull was moulded and tooled by Halmatic Ltd and marketed by Camper & Nicholsons. The first boat Forerunner was commissioned in 1963 and priced at £4,900. Between 1963 and 1971 various modifications were made and described as MkI to MkVII. In 1972 the MkX was introduced with a restyled hull, improved accommodation and 3″ extra freeboard. The final modification, the MkXI, was introduced in 1977.
CONstruction
The Nicholson 32 was a pioneer of GRP construction, with many features which are accepted as standard today. She had adequate headroom, was lined throughout, properly ventilated with modern toilet and galley facilities and good insulation. She had a strong, well-balanced rig, carefully designed cockpit and exceptional sailing ability in all weathers. Numerous modifications were made over the years of production, but she remains, quite simply, one of the best yachts ever made.
The Nicholson 32 heralded the advent of series boat production in glassfibre and began a revolution in building techniques, most of which are common practice today.
The N32 was a development of boats like the highly successful South Coast One-Design and other proven winners designed by Charles Nicholson, such as the 9-tonner Jolina and the 12-tonner Lothian… (read more)
The Nicholson 32 Association
Benefits of membership.
Technical information
Whatever you need to know about your Nicholson 32, one of our members will have the answer. And we have a huge library of technical articles, drawings and images. We also hold a supply of some parts which you can find on the website (Merchandise).
email forum
Our members have been exchanging emails on all things Nicholson-related since 1998. You can search the archive and read up any topic of interest.
racing and cruising
Nicholson 32s are a recognised class and have a proud tradition of competition in sailing events, including the Round-the-Island race. We also organise cruises in company for those less competitive members.
social events
With active members in many areas of the UK we organise social events both on and off the water. A highlight of the winter months is our Annual Dinner at the Naval Club in London.
A passion for classic sailing
Cherishing the nic 32.
No-one would pretend that looking after an older boat is easy, but the rewards of maintaining a beautiful and elegant craft like the Nicholson 32 are many. She is robustly constructed and capable of looking after her skipper and crew in the worst of weather. She has classic lines that make her instantly identifiable amidst the uniform features of modern sailing boats. And the experience of maintaining, renovating and enhancing her appearance is a pleasurable distraction from the pressures of modern life. Our mission is to help all Nic 32 owners get the most out of their boats.
Buy a Nicholson 32
Yachts for sale.
There are usually a number of Nicholson 32 boats for sale. Association members are able to post details of their vessels for sale by submitting information using a form on the website. See Members’ Pages for full details.
BoatNews.com
My second hand boat / Nicholson 32: a 9.75m sailboat capable of circumnavigating the globe
Benoit is the 5th owner of a Nicholson 32, a long-keel sloop with an excellent reputation. He tells us why he chose this yacht, as well as his first impressions.
Benoit, a sailor who wants to sail the open seas
Originally from Martigues , Benoit has been sailing on all kinds of sailboats since his early childhood. For several years now, this liveaboard sailing instructor has owned a Karaté, with which he has completed a number of coastal cruises, as well as the local regatta circuit. But the desire to change boat in anticipation of ocean cruising is on his mind.
" I was looking for a simple, very seaworthy boat within a reasonable budget. What's more, I'm very sensitive to the lines of classic turn-of-the-century sloops. But a wooden hull is too demanding to maintain. After a long search, I settled on the Nicholson 32, which has both classic lines and an excellent reputation for seaworthiness ".
A solid sailboat with several round-the-world voyages under its belt
Built in 370 units, the Nicholson 32 is a long-keel sloop that has sailed the seas of the world. Designed by architect Charles A Nicholson and his son Peter, it was one of the first production boats built in polyester.
Seaworthy, simple and well-built, it offers excellent handling and satisfactory living space for its time. Several models have sailed non-stop around the world via the southern seas. It was also aboard this yacht that sailor Clare Francis crossed the North Atlantic in 1973.
A well-maintained 1966 model
After visiting a first model that didn't inspire him, Benoit came across an ad for a Nicholson 32 based in Spain . The asking price was at the upper end of the range, but this 1966 model was in very good condition.
What's more, it has benefited from a number of modifications that have been very well executed. All manoeuvring is back in the cockpit, an opening deck hatch has been installed forward of the coachroof, and a beautiful bow fitting allows the attachment of a stainless steel bowsprit . All the old Goiot winches have been replaced by self-tailings, and the yacht is equipped with a Volvo MD2B, which has been completely overhauled
After starting her career in Southampton, this Nicholson 32 sailed to La Rochelle , then Marseille , before arriving in Spain . Her 4 e owner restored her for 5 years. Osmosis treatments were carried out regularly, and the on-board equipment was meticulously maintained.
An invigorating grip
Benoit, accompanied by a crew member, picked up his boat in Segur de Calafell, south of Barcelona . This 240-mile winter delivery trip is an ideal trial run for getting to grips with a new sailboat . After a technical check-up and inventory , the duo cast off for Martigues .
Right from the start, they attacked a long downwind leg with a 20-25 knot SW'ly wind. Then, after a small phase of calm under engine, the crew made 35-40 knots on the beam in the Golfe du Lion, with a nice 3m swell , as Benoit tells us:
" We had quite a bit of air for a first time, but the boat behaves really well. Under pilot, she's super-stable and very well-balanced. We even reached 9 knots!
If I had to point out any shortcomings, the main one is the difficulty of maneuvering in reverse with this long keel and 7-ton displacement. I'm also going to add some lazy jacks to make it easier to hoist the mainsail. And living space is pretty limited for a 32-foot sailboat. "
However, the results of this introduction are still very positive. Benoit will continue to learn how to handle his new boat, and, why not, start dreaming of taking part in the next Golden Globe Race .
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- Nicholson 32 Mk10
The Nicholson 32 Mk10 Sailboat Specs & Key Performance Indicators
The Nicholson 32 Mk10 was designed by the British naval architect Charles A. Nicholson. This model is part of the Nicholson 32 series which began production in the early 1960s.
It was built by Camper & Nicholson, a historic shipbuilding firm located in Gosport, Hampshire, England. Known for their robust construction and seaworthiness, Nicholson 32 boats, including the Mk10, have been highly regarded by both cruising enthusiasts and racing sailors. This model, in particular, continues to stand as a testament to the craftsmanship and legacy of its builders and designer.
Published Specifications for the Nicholson 32 Mk10
Underwater Configuration: Fin keel & keel-hung rudder
Hull Material: Fiberglass
Length Overall: 33 feet (approximately 10.06 meters)
Waterline Length: 24 feet (approximately 7.32 meters)
Beam: 9 feet 3 inches (approximately 2.82 meters)
Draft: 5 feet 6 inches (approximately 1.68 meters)
Rig Type: Masthead Sloop
Displacement: 6,720 pounds (approximately 3,048 kilograms)
Ballast: 13,228 pounds (approximately 6,000 kilograms)
Designer: Peter Nicholson
Builder: Halmatic Ltd & Camper & Nicholson *
Year First Built: 1968
Year Last Built: 1981
Number Built: Approximately 370 units
* The hulls were moulded by Halmatic in Portsmouth and mainly fitted out by Camper & Nicholson.
The Nicholson 32 was a development of the successful South Coast One Design (SCOD) and other proven Charles Nicholson designs like the nine-tonner, Jolina. Charles’ son, Peter, believed demand for custom yachts was dwindling and glass-fibre production yachts were the future. The Nicholson 32 had to meet three criteria. It had to be about 32ft (9.7m) long, easy to build and cost less than £5,000 at the time.
The Nicholson 32 went through 11 model upgrades, from Mk 1 to Mk 11. The Mk 10 (237-329) underwent major modernisation and restyling. The freeboard was raised 3in/75mm, enabling the coachroof to be lowered and the windows redesigned. The cockpit was enlarged by removing the afterdeck, increasing her length to 10m/33ft, and the offset companionway was moved to the centreline.
Published Design Ratios for the Nicholson 32 Mk10
- Sail Area/Displacement Ratio (16.7): This ratio, which measures the sail power relative to the boat's weight, is at the higher end of what is considered reasonable for good performance (16 to 20). Therefore, the Nicholson 32 Mk10 should have a reasonably good sail performance, offering a balance between power and control, albeit not being classified as highly powered.
- Ballast/Displacement Ratio (49.2): This is a high value, suggesting that the boat is designed to be stiff and powerful, capable of standing up well to the wind. It indicates that a significant proportion of the boat’s weight is dedicated to ballast, enhancing stability. However, the effectiveness of this ballast in terms of its positioning (whether deeper in the keel or more superficial) isn't addressed by this ratio alone. Therefore, while generally indicating good stability, the practical effects might vary based on the ballast placement within the keel's structure.
- Displacement/Length Ratio (441.2): This places the Nicholson 32 Mk10 in the 'Ultraheavy Displacement' category, suggesting that it is significantly heavy for its length. This boat will require more sail area to achieve its hull speed compared to lighter boats and can generally be expected to be more capable in heavy weather, but less agile and slower in light conditions.
- Comfort Ratio (40.9): Falling within the 40 to 50 range, this indicates a motion comfort level associated with a heavy bluewater boat. This suggests that the Nicholson 32 Mk10 should provide a relatively comfortable ride in rough seas, with less pronounced pitching and rolling movements compared to lighter boats.
- Capsize Screening Formula (1.55): A value less than 1.7 in this formula, which the Nicholson 32 Mk10 achieves, is generally indicative of a boat that is likely to have better stability and suitability for ocean passages. This lower value suggests a lower propensity for capsizing, which, when combined with the boat's other characteristics, reinforces its suitability for extended bluewater cruising.
Theoretical Nature and Limitations: These ratios, while useful for providing a theoretical overview of a boat's characteristics, should be interpreted with some caution.
For example, the Ballast/Displacement Ratio does not offer insights into how the ballast is distributed, which critically affects actual stability and performance.
Similarly, Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio is influenced strongly by traditional design features (like displacement and beam) and may not accurately reflect the comfort of modern designs that feature lighter displacement and wider beams. These modern designs could still perform well in bluewater conditions despite potentially lower scores in this metric.
Hence, while these ratios are helpful in giving a preliminary assessment, actual performance and comfort would ideally need to be verified through real-world experience and tests, which offer insights that theoretical calculations cannot fully encompass.
Read more about Design Ratios...
The above answers were drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe them to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.
Other sailboats in the Nicholson range include:
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One of the most successful yachts built by Camper & Nicholson. Hulls were molded by Halmatic, at the time, sister company under the same corporate umbrella. A number of changes were made to the design during it's nearly 20 year production run. Beginning around 1968, a number of boats were built under license by Rudder […]
The Nicholson 32 was a development of the successful South Coast One Design (SCOD) and other proven Charles Nicholson designs like the nine-tonner, Jolina. Charles' son, Peter, believed demand for custom yachts was dwindling and glass-fibre production yachts were the future. The Nicholson 32 had to meet three criteria.
Find Nicholson 32 boats for sale in your area & across the world on YachtWorld. Offering the best selection of Nicholson boats to choose from.
Nicholson 32 - multiple versions and updates The boat was the result of a partnership between pioneering glassfibre moulding company Halmatic and the Camper & Nicholson design office and shipyard. It was designed by Charles A Nicholson and his son Peter, whose family had an enviable reputation for yacht design, including America's Cup challengers Shamrock and Endeavour, plus a long string ...
The Nicholson 32 heralded the advent of series boat production in glassfibre and began a revolution in building techniques, most of which are common practice today.
A solid sailboat with several round-the-world voyages under its belt. Built in 370 units, the Nicholson 32 is a long-keel sloop that has sailed the seas of the world. Designed by architect Charles A Nicholson and his son Peter, it was one of the first production boats built in polyester.
The Nicholson 32 Sailboat The Nicholson 32, a heavy displacement long-keeled masthead sloop, was designed by Charles Nicholson & Peter Nicholson and built in the UK by Camper & Nicholson Ltd.
The Nicholson 32 Mk10 Sailboat. The Nicholson 32 Mk10 was designed by the British naval architect Charles A. Nicholson. This model is part of the Nicholson 32 series which began production in the early 1960s. It was built by Camper & Nicholson, a historic shipbuilding firm located in Gosport, Hampshire, England.
These boat details are subject to contract. "The Nicholson 32 was designed in 1962 by Peter and Charles Nicholson of Camper & Nicholsons, then one of Britain's most prestigious custom boat builders. The hulls were all moulded by Halmatic, and from 1966 onwards the boats were both moulded and completed by Halmatics. By modern standards Nicholson 32s are massively strong in build, and remain ...
They are certainly happy with the boat and its cruising qualities. Nicholsons are known for osmosis problems though. A simple boat like a Nic 32 should be easy to upgrade/refit and will provide a sturdy cruising platform in my opinion. 15-12-2017, 04:08. # 4.
Nicholson 32 VS Endeavor 32 Jump to Latest 5K views 18 replies 8 participants last post by Jeff_H Aug 28, 2023 talmoc Discussion starter 5 posts · Joined 2020 #1 · Oct 11, 2020 Endeavor 32: Endeavour 32 - Sailboat Guide Nicholson 32: Nicholson 32 - Sailboat Guide Hello there, I'm wondering if these two have significant differences in terms of blue water/atlantic crossing/stormy weather? Is ...
Olly Wyatt sails a Nicholson 32 across the North Sea from Norway to Scotland, but gale-force winds and on-passage incidents meant he got more experience than he bargained for...
The Nicholson 32 Mk X layout offers up to 5 berths in 2 cabins with 6'3" maximum headroom. FOREPEAK - consisting of single vee berths with storage beneath, shelves, access to chain locker, and hatch to foredeck. HEADS - Full width heads compartment with marine toilet to port and wash basin opposite, both with storage cupboards.
Find Nicholson 32 boats for sale in your area & across the world on YachtWorld. Offering the best selection of Nicholson boats to choose from.
These boat details are subject to contract. "The Nicholson 32 was designed in 1962 by Peter and Charles Nicholson of Camper & Nicholsons, then one of Britain's most prestigious custom boat builders. The hulls were all moulded by Halmatic, and from 1966 onwards the boats were both moulded and completed by Halmatics. By modern standards Nicholson 32s are massively strong in build, and remain ...
Nicholson Nicholson is a yacht manufacturer that currently has 8 yachts for sale on YachtWorld, including 0 new vessels and 8 used yachts, listed by experienced yacht brokers mainly in the following countries: United Kingdom, France and Ireland. Models currently listed on YachtWorld span in size and length from 32 feet to 57 feet.
Later version of the NICHOLSON 32 sold directly by Halmatic.
View a wide selection of Nicholson 32 boats for sale in your area, explore detailed information & find your next boat on boats.com. #everythingboats
Search nicholson 32 prices - more than 74 listings - Nicholson 32 with light blue hull from 1974 in good condition and much improved in current ownership, new headlinings internal wood refurbished and much more.
Nicholson preowned sailboats for sale by owner. Nicholson used sailboats for sale by owner.
These boat details are subject to contract. "The Nicholson 32 was designed in 1962 by Peter and Charles Nicholson of Camper & Nicholsons, then one of Britain's most prestigious custom boat builders. The hulls were all moulded by Halmatic, and from 1966 onwards the boats were both moulded and completed by Halmatics. By modern standards Nicholson 32s are massively strong in build, and remain ...
View our full range of NICHOLSON 32 Boats online at boatsales.com.au