Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 35 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

At 35 ft 3 in overall with a 26 ft 9 in waterline and a beam of 10 ft 5 in, the Nicholson 35 carries a displacement of some 17,600 lb and a lead ballast of about 7,300 lb (a 41 to 42 percent ratio) with the lead concentrated low in the molded keel, which yields a reasonably stiff boat by any measure anchor. The lead casting is dropped into a molded keel cavity and heavily glassed over. Nicholsons were early adopters of isophthalic polyester, though on this model it appears only in the gelcoat. Some hulls were built under Lloyds survey, but not all. Her shroud chainplates are heavy stainless "hairpins" bolted just inboard of the low bulwarks, and Lloyds approves the installation. A bridgedeck protects the companionway, though the high coamings mean the cockpit could fill nearly to the hatch in a serious pooping; later boats add flapper-protected transom pipe scuppers alongside the big cockpit scuppers.

Rig and Handling

The rig is a simple masthead sloop with double lower shrouds and single airfoil spreaders, the tapered anodized Proctor mast foam-filled to deaden sound. Working sail area splits almost evenly between foretriangle and mainsail, with standard Lewmar 40 or 43 jib sheet winches and mast-mounted halyard winches. Early boats carry roller-reefing booms; later ones slab reefing. Yachting Monthly found her overhanging deep-vee bow parts seas resolutely with little spray, and that the conservative sail plan against her generous ballast keeps her stiff until a Force 5, able to hold full sail past 20 knots. The big genoa makes headsail sheeting hard work, and her leisurely tacking pace versus a shorter-fin yacht is offset by steady passage-making through rough water. The prop location on the back of the keel makes close-quarters maneuvering difficult, especially astern anchor.

Accommodations

Inside, headroom exceeds six feet throughout and long main-cabin windows keep the space light. The forward cabin's V-berths stop short of a point, giving foot room, though a vertical chain pipe between berths on many boats limits any double-berth conversion and ventilation there is poor. A full-width head follows, then a U-shaped starboard dinette with a permanent drop-leaf table. Early boats used white melamine bulkheads; later ones teak-veneer, with padded vinyl hull liners throughout. The saloon settee originally had a pilot berth outboard, deleted on many to gain stowage. All berths have lee cloths as standard. The galley has a small sink, a five-cubic-foot icebox, and a standard gimbaled two-burner Flavel propane stove on a paltry 10 lb supply. A nav station sits at the port after quarter in two layouts; the aft-facing version trades the quarterberth for a cockpit locker and adds a raised watch seat by the companionway.

Known Issues

Engine access is poor in both the early hydraulic-drive and later V-drive installations, though on V-drive boats with a quarterberth you can reach the front through the berth. The early reverse-mount engine with hydraulic drive is growing hard to source spares for. Forward ventilation is weak, relying on a low-profile Tannoy hatch ventilator that moves little air. Early boats fill the molded ~70-gallon water tank from inside with no deck fill, and molded non-skid is only so-so.

Refits and Ownership

Early boats used the Perkins or Westerbeke 4-107; later ones a smaller Westerbeke L-25 or marinized Volkswagen Rabbit, with the engine moved aft under the cockpit on a V-drive. Battery capacity grew from two 90 Ah to 128 Ah each with a 60-amp alternator. Teak decks were an option but rarely taken. Original deck gear was robust—forty-year-old winches and tracks still survive. Later models often convert the deep cool box to separate fridge and freezer.

The Verdict

The Nicholson 35 is a sea-kindly, heavily built medium-displacement cruiser whose low ballast and deep bilge suit offshore work, let down mainly by engine access and early drivetrain support.

Pros