Nicholson 31 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Nicholson 31 represents a pivotal evolution in the lineage of Camper & Nicholsons, arriving in 1976 as the modernized successor to the venerable Nicholson 32. Designed by Raymond Wall, the firm’s chief designer at the time, the 31 was tasked with retaining the legendary seaworthiness of its predecessor while providing a more voluminous interior and improved handling characteristics. Built during an era when fiberglass construction was reaching its peak of over-engineered durability, the Nicholson 31 is often described by maritime historians as a "pocket blue-water cruiser." Unlike many of its contemporaries that transitioned toward lighter fin-keel designs, the 31 maintained a traditional long keel with a transom-hung rudder, a configuration favored by long-distance voyagers for its directional stability and structural integrity. Approximately 160 hulls were produced before the model was phased out in the early 1980s, and it remains a benchmark for small, serious offshore yachts.