The 31 succeeded the popular Nicholson 32, retaining that boat’s Folkboat-inspired ethos in a stout, seaworthy long-keel cruiser intended for serious offshore and long-distance sailing. Only 120 were built. The Nicholson 31 Association formed in 2004, 28 years after the first hull was launched.
Design and construction
The Nicholson 31 measures 30ft 7in overall and 24ft 2in on the waterline, with a beam of 10ft 3½in and a draft of 5ft. She displaces 5.8 tons and has a long keel with encapsulated lead ballast.
Construction was conventional, hand-laid GRP to Lloyds specifications, with balsa-cored decks and coachroof. The hull is very solidly built. Most of the interior—including the galley, heads, and furniture bases—consists of moulded modules bonded to the hull and tied into the stringers and frames, creating a very strong unit.
A 65-gallon water tank forms part of the keel moulding. The 17-gallon fuel tank sits beneath the cockpit sole, while the batteries are below the quarterberth.
The profile combines a pretty sheerline and gently curved stem with slight tumblehome in the aft sections. A businesslike transom-hung rudder completes the picture.
Rig, performance, and handling
The Nicholson 31’s conservative rig and moderate displacement don’t make her especially quick in light air. The design instead emphasizes comfort and seakindliness.
Under mainsail alone, she could be controlled and tacked easily, making her well suited to close-quarters manoeuvring. Left to herself, she would slowly luff up, tack, sail off, and repeat the process, virtually marking time in the same spot.
With two rolls in the main and the No. 1 jib set on a beam reach, she sailed happily at about 6 knots. Hardened up in a short, stopping sea, her weight carried her through at a steady 4 knots. Even when heeled fairly far over, she remained well balanced and could steer herself for long periods. In gusts, she developed only a little weather helm.
Test sailors also found her surprisingly dry, with no water passing the dodgers into the cockpit.
Accommodation and stowage
Below, the Nicholson 31 makes extensive use of teak trim and joinery. The saloon can look snug at first because the settees sit well inboard to create more stowage. Aligned with the centreline and fitted with trotter boxes, however, they make good seaberths.
A useful pilot berth to port faces a bank of overhead lockers to starboard. There’s a vast amount of stowage outboard of and beneath the settees, with still more in the forepeak. The boat has six berths and around 6ft of headroom.
This layout reflects the original brief: enough displacement to carry the equipment and stores needed for extended cruising, along with the accommodation expected of a go-anywhere cruiser.
Engine, tankage, and options
A Yanmar 2QM20 22hp engine powers the Nicholson 31. Tankage is variously given as 65 gallons or 200 litres of water, and 17 gallons or 78 litres of fuel. These systems support extended periods aboard without frequent replenishment.
Hydrovane self-steering gear was offered as an option and was judged adequate for the boat, reinforcing her character as a comfortable, easily handled cruiser of the go-anywhere variety.
The verdict
The Nicholson 31 is a limited-production British cruiser with genuine bluewater credentials and a reputation as a go-anywhere boat. Many have crossed the Atlantic. She’s strongly built, well balanced, and dry, though modest in light-air performance.
For a buyer looking for a manageable offshore companion with character, she remains a considered choice.
Pros
- Exceptional build quality, with a heavy, solid GRP layup and balsa-cored decks
- Well balanced and easily handled, including under mainsail alone in close quarters
- Extensive stowage, six berths, and teak joinery
- Proven ocean-passage record, including Atlantic crossings
Cons
- Moderate displacement and a conservative rig limit light-air speed
- Only 120 were built, so finding one takes patience
- The long keel and 5ft draft suit passage-making better than tight marina hopping
