Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 39 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used brokerage market for a Nicholson 39 means looking at a small population of fiberglass British ketches from the mid-1970s, built by Camper & Nicholson Ltd. with a long keel and a ketch rig. These are heavy-displacement cruisers rather than modern performance boats, and the handful available tend to reflect owner-led cruising histories.
Layouts on the Used Market
Buyers should expect the standard production configuration: a fiberglass hull on a long keel, ketch-rigged, with the factory fresh-water capacity of 473 litres and fuel capacity of 284 litres anchor. The immersion rate of about 202 kg/cm means load changes sit the boat noticeably deeper, so a heavily provisioned example will draw toward the upper 1.78 m end of the stated range.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used Nicholson 39s commonly carry solar panels, lithium batteries, and an inverter as the energy foundation, with an asymmetric spinnaker, bow thruster, teak decks, radar, AIS, autopilot, chartplotter, life raft, heating, washing machine, and Starlink also commonly fitted. For a buyer, the power-and-energy cluster (solar, lithium, inverter) signals a boat set up for anchor living, while the navigation cluster (radar, AIS, autopilot, chartplotter) indicates offshore or solitude-minded use. A bow thruster and teak decks are common comfort and docking aids, and a washing machine plus heating point to a liveaboard-standard interior.
What to Inspect
A viewing should focus on the ordinary consequences of a low-volume fiberglass cruiser of this age. Confirm the stated tankage matches the hull: 284 L fuel and 473 L water anchor, and check the keel-hull joint of the long-keel profile for any historical grounding scars. Verify the ketch rigging dimensions are serviceable — jib and genoa sheets at 11.9 m, mainsheet at 29.7 m, spinnaker sheet at 26.2 m, all 14 mm diameter — since replacements are owner-sourced on a sub-100-build boat anchor.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United Kingdom. A short checklist for a viewing:
- Confirm fuel and water tank capacities match 284 L and 473 L
- Inspect long-keel hull joint for grounding damage
- Measure rigging sheets against 14 mm, 11.9 m / 29.7 m specs
- Test the Ford diesel if fitted
- Check teak decks for soft spots if equipped
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 39. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 1 | $108,708 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $101,914 | -6.2% |
Where they're listed
Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 39 listings appear across 1 country. United Kingdom has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $101,914 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 439 | 47' | $ 700,000 | 23 | 7 |
| Nicholson 38 | 37.83' | $ 32,612 | 13 | 4 |
| Moody 39 | 38.58' | $ 54,286 | 12 | 2 |
| Nicholson Nicholson 35 | 35.25' | $ 39,418 | 10 | 2 |
| Oyster Yachts 39 | 40.68' | $ 52,443 | 9 | 3 |
| Nicholson 39 | 39' | $ 101,914 | 8 | 3 |
| Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 38 | 37.83' | $ 46,971 | 8 | 2 |
| Camper & Nicholsons Nicholson 39You are here | — | $ 101,914 | 1 | 0 |