Design and Construction
The 31 measures 30 feet 7 inches overall on a 24 foot 2 inch waterline, with a beam of 10 feet 3 inches and a displacement near 13,000 pounds. Period reviews describe a pretty sheerline, a gentle stem curve, slight tumblehome aft, and a businesslike transom-hung rudder that, with the long keel, appealed to single-handers. Construction was conventional hand-laid GRP to Lloyd's specifications, with balsa-cored decks and coachroof and encapsulated lead ballast. Most of the interior — galley, heads, and furniture bases — is built from moulded modules bonded to the hull and allied to stringers and frames, making for a very strong unit; reviewers judged her very solidly built, and Yachtsnet noted she is massively strongly built compared to almost all modern production yachts.
Rig and Handling
The Nicholson 31 is a masthead sloop carrying about 624 square feet of sail, and the emphasis in the design is on comfort and seakindliness rather than outright speed, though she is no sluggard. Test sailors found that under main alone she could be easily controlled and tacked, ideal for close-quarters manoeuvring, and if the helm was left she would slowly luff up, tack, sail off, and repeat, virtually marking time on the same spot. With two rolls in the main and the No. 1 jib on a beam reach she sailed happily at about 6 knots, and even overcanvased in gusts showed only a little weather helm. Her weight drove her through a short stopping sea at a steady 4 knots, and she proved well balanced even when laid well over, able to steer herself for long periods. Reviewers found her surprisingly dry, with little more than the occasional splash reaching the weather deck.
Accommodations
Below, the Nicholson 31 is entirely traditional, with extensive teak trim and joinery throughout. The saloon looks snug at first sight because the settees are brought far inboard to make room for stowage, but those settees are aligned with the centreline and make good seaberths with trotter boxes. A useful pilot berth to port faces a bank of overhead lockers to starboard, and there is a vast amount of stowage outboard of and under the settees and in the forepeak. The chart table is separated from the saloon by a bulkhead fitted with a bookshelf and instruments, and aft of it lies a quarter berth comfortable at sea. The galley is to port, the heads between saloon and fore cabin with sea toilet to port and basin to starboard, and the fore cabin has a vee berth; headroom is excellent for the size.
Refits and Ownership
A Hydrovane self-steering gear was offered as a factory option and was reckoned adequate for the boat, and many 31s are seen with self-steering gears, reflecting her serious long-distance cruiser role. The 65-gallon water tank is part of the keel moulding, the 17-gallon fuel tank is situated beneath the cockpit floor, and batteries are below the quarterberth — an arrangement worth understanding when planning systems work.
The Verdict
The Nicholson 31 fulfils her role as a comfortable and easily handled cruising boat of the go-anywhere variety, designed for serious sea-going rather than marina daysailing, and faster in almost all conditions than the 32 she replaced. She is a strongly built all-weather cruiser with traditional accommodation that remains practical for extended voyaging.
Pros
- Massively strong hand-laid GRP hull with encapsulated lead ballast and balsa-cored decks
- Easily handled under main alone, well balanced, and dry in short seas
- Traditional, spacious below, with excellent stowage and a proper sea-going quarter berth
Cons
- Slightly underrigged relative to similar sailboats, with modest light-air performance
- Long keel and 5 foot draft limit marina access compared with shoal-draft cruisers
- Only around 120 built, so finding one takes patience
