Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 31 Buyer's Guide
The Nicholson 31 is a British-built long-keel cruiser that Camper & Nicholsons produced from around 1976 to 1980. Raymond Wall designed her as the successor to the Nicholson 32, keeping a folkboat-inspired ethos in a stout, seaworthy package meant for serious offshore passage-making yet manageable single-handed. With only 120 ever built, she is a scarce but well-regarded name on the used market, often sought by sailors wanting bluewater capability without a large boat.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Nicholson 31 shares the same essential interior: six berths, about 6ft headroom, and a saloon whose settees are pulled inboard to open stowage space along the hull sides. A pilot berth to port faces overhead lockers to starboard, and the forepeak adds further storage. The moulded galley, heads, and furniture bases are bonded to the hull with stringers and frames, so the structure is integral rather than bolted in. Buyers should note the 65-gallon water tank is part of the keel moulding and the fuel tank of 17 gallons is positioned under the cockpit sole, with batteries below the quarterberth — fixed locations that shape any refit thinking.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the brokerage circuit these boats commonly carry AIS, chartplotter, solar, bow thruster, autopilot, life raft, and a short-handed setup, reflecting their passage-making role. For a buyer, the meaningful clusters are power and energy — solar paired with the autopilot and bow thruster eases anchor work and long offshore stretches — and navigation and safety, where AIS and chartplotter alongside a life raft speak to prepared cruising. A Hydrovane self-steering option was original, and a Yanmar 2QM20 22hp engine is standard; the short-handed setup means most examples are rigged for manageable single- or two-person operation.
What to Inspect
The Nicholson 31 is renowned for heavy GRP construction with solid layup and balsa-cored decks and coachroof. Because the interior modules are bonded to the hull, inspect the bond lines where galley, heads, and furniture meet the shell for any separation. The encapsulated lead ballast and keel-moulded water tank mean the keel area deserves close attention for impact or osmotic issues, and the under-cockpit fuel tank and below-quarterberth batteries should be checked for access and corrosion. The long keel and transom-hung rudder are straightforward, but the rudder stock and hull junction are worth a surveyor's look.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Nicholson 31 are the United States, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Given the small build number, expect to wait for the right example.
- Confirm hull-to-module bonding and balsa-core deck condition
- Check keel moulding and encapsulated ballast for damage
- Verify engine, fuel tank, and battery access
- Prefer boats with short-handed rigging and self-steering
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 31. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 4 | $19,500 | — |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $10,645 | -45.4% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $30,227 | +184.0% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $11,766 | -61.1% |
Where they're listed
Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 31 listings appear across 4 countries. United States has the most listings with 4 (44.4%), followed by Belgium and Netherlands.
Country view
9 listings · 4 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $19,500 | 4 | 0 | 44.4% |
| Belgium | $11,766 | 2 | 0 | 22.2% |
| Netherlands | $22,103 | 2 | 0 | 22.2% |
| Ireland | $26,893 | 1 | 0 | 11.1% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 31 | 34.33' | $ 39,450 | 36 | 14 |
| Moody 31 Mk I | 30.75' | $ 32,475 | 28 | 8 |
| Westerly Berwick 31 | 31' | $ 11,279 | 19 | 2 |
| Rustler 31 | 31.42' | $ 17,251 | 10 | 0 |
| Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 31You are here | — | $ 19,500 | 9 | 0 |