Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 32 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used brokerage market for a Nicholson 32 means looking at a class that ran from 1962 to 1981 across eleven marks, with 369 built and a healthy number still sailing. These are heavy-displacement, long-keeled masthead sloops with a strong monocoque fibreglass structure, and the differences between early and late boats are significant enough that a buyer should know the mark before viewing.
Layouts on the Used Market
Early boats show the original four-berth plan with V-berths forward and saloon singles, large side windows, and a port galley. Later 1960s boats adopted a dinette that converts to a double, and the Mk X of 1972 brought higher freeboard, a larger cockpit, and a centerline companionway, while Mk XI from 1977 added a glassfibre inner moulding and optional wheel steering. Berth count can reach six on later marks with quarter and pilot berths, so the same model name hides a wide range of interior volume and natural light.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used Nicholson 32s on the market commonly carry heating, solar, a furling main, dinghy davits, autopilot, chartplotter, and life raft as standard cruising kit. Often-seen additions include a spinnaker and teak decks. For a buyer, the power-and-energy cluster — solar with a heater and autopilot — determines whether the boat is set for extended anchorages or needs a refit spend; canvas and sail-handling items like the furling main and davits speak to short-handed cruising capability, while the chartplotter and life raft are baseline safety. Teak decks, when present, are a cosmetic and maintenance item to budget around rather than a performance gain.
What to Inspect
The one class-wide defect to confirm is osmosis in early hulls. On a viewing, inspect early hulls for osmosis with a moisture meter survey, looking for soft spots, blistering, or a damp musty smell in the cabin sole area that suggests past or active laminate degradation, and commission a survey before committing. Later marks with the glassfibre inner moulding should be checked for separation at the bunk tops where the liner finishes.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats typically appear in the United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Spain, and Ireland.
- Confirm the mark and freeboard before judging layout
- Check early hulls for osmosis with a moisture survey
- Test reverse gear for prop walk in a confined space
- Verify the laminate liner bond on Mk XI boats
- Inspect teak decks for caulking failure if fitted
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 32. 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 | 1 | $38,416 | — |
| Nov 25 | 1 | $14,552 | -62.1% |
| Jan 26 | 1 | $21,200 | +45.7% |
| Apr 26 | 3 | $16,294 | -23.1% |
Where they're listed
Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 32 listings appear across 5 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 2 (33.3%), followed by Australia and Spain.
Country view
6 listings · 5 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $18,330 | 2 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Australia | $21,200 | 1 | 0 | 16.7% |
| Spain | $38,416 | 1 | 0 | 16.7% |
| Ireland | $13,911 | 1 | 0 | 16.7% |
| Italy | $14,552 | 1 | 0 | 16.7% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremy Rogers 32 | 32' | $ 31,450 | 71 | 16 |
| Sadler 32 | 31.5' | $ 22,132 | 55 | 11 |
| Wauquiez Centurion 32 | — | $ 26,209 | 30 | 4 |
| Nicholson 32 | 32' | $ 14,960 | 24 | 2 |
| Nicholson Nicholson 35 | 35.25' | $ 39,396 | 10 | 2 |
| Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 32You are here | — | $ 18,333 | 6 | 0 |