Nicholson 1/2 Ton Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Nicholson 1/2 Ton means pursuing a scarce Ron Holland half tonner that Camper & Nicholson launched in 1977, with only 28 built on the Nicholson 303 hull anchor. These are IOR buoy-racers at heart — small, agile, and fast — so the used buyer is really acquiring a focused period raceboat rather than a general-purpose cruiser.
Layouts on the Used Market
The 1/2 Ton is a 30-foot fractional sloop with a 9.14-meter length and 3.12-meter beam, carrying a solid fiberglass hull and deck over an iron-ballasted fin keel and spade rudder. Below, the envelope is defined by 20 gallons of water and 12 gallons of fuel alongside a 12-horsepower Yanmar diesel — a racer's minimal liveaboard footprint, not a bluewater layout. Expect the compact proportions of a 24.75-foot waterline hull shaped to dominate around the buoys rather than to stretch out a crew.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Well-equipped examples on the market commonly carry a circumnavigation-grade setup with heating, inverter, radar, hot water, autopilot, chartplotter, EPIRB, and life raft as standard-fitted gear. For a buyer, that cluster means a boat already provisioned for extended offshore use despite its racing origin: forced-air heat and hot water address comfort, while radar, chartplotter, and autopilot cover navigation and watch relief. The presence of an EPIRB and life raft signals serious passage-making intent rather than day-racing trim.
What to Inspect
The buyer should verify the basics of a 1977-vintage solid GRP racer: hull integrity around the fin keel root, spade rudder stock condition, and the original Yanmar diesel's service history given only 12 gallons of fuel capacity. Inspection centers on age-appropriate GRP and rigging wear on a 28-unit class.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical market availability centers on Portugal, where these rare boats occasionally surface. For the buyer, the checklist is short and severe: confirm Ron Holland pedigree and 303-hull derivation, verify the commonly fitted offshore equipment is operational, and budget for age-related GRP and rigging renewal on a 28-unit class. A well-kept example is a distinctive entry into classic IOR racing with real cruising potential.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Nicholson 1/2 Ton. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $92,753 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $92,753 | 0.0% |
| Jun 26 | 1 | $81,159 | -12.5% |
Where they're listed
Nicholson 1/2 Ton listings appear across 1 country. Portugal has the most listings with 3.
Country view
3 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | $92,753 | 3 | 1 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
3 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholson Nicholson 35 | 35.25' | $ 39,248 | 10 | 2 |
| Carter 3/4 Ton | 33' | $ 25,000 | 7 | 4 |
| Camper & Nicholsons 1/2 TonYou are here | — | $ 92,723 | 3 | 1 |