Her dimensions and proportions set the tone. The Nicholson 32 has a 32-foot length overall, a 24-foot waterline, and a slender 9-foot 3-inch beam. The hull follows a “cod’s head and mackerel tail” form—full forward and narrow aft. Very heavy displacement of 13,450 lb and a high ballast ratio of 6,615 lb give the boat her unmistakable offshore character.
Design and Construction
The Nicholson 32’s defining structural feature is her massively thick chopped-strand-mat layup. This single-skin GRP construction produces an exceptionally rigid, impact-resistant hull.
The design evolved through several marks, but the changes were evolutionary rather than revolutionary. The core hull philosophy remained constant throughout the production run. In 1972, the MkX gained three inches of freeboard, a hull stretched to 33 feet, and a more streamlined deck moulding. Mark XI boats, introduced in 1977, added a glassfibre inner moulding that finished at the top of the bunks.
Early boats were prone to osmosis, a known weakness of the unpigmented resin and mat construction used during that period. Later marks with refined mouldings and inner liners aren’t cited as having the same prevalence.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
The Nicholson 32 carries a well-supported, single-spreader masthead rig. Test sailors found that she could hold her full sail plan in winds up to Force 5.
On the wind, Practical Boat Owner’s test boat, Beduin, reliably tacked through a very respectable 90 degrees, as measured on a chartplotter. Depending on sea state, her typical upwind speed was 5 to 6 knots across a range of wind strengths. When she bore away onto a reach, she maintained averages of around 6.5 knots.
Under power, the boat demands a different approach. Her long keel and relatively small, keel-hung rudder—with no balance area—produce a large turning circle. In reverse, she also has substantial prop walk. These are handling traits a buyer must respect rather than fight.
Accommodation and Interior
Interior light varies by era. Early boats have large saloon windows that admit plenty of natural light. Later models use smaller side windows, but added windows in the front of the coachroof keep both the saloon and forecabin bright.
Early saloons were arranged with two settees and a pilot berth outboard of one. By the late 1960s, the layout had changed to a single settee with a dinette opposite; the dinette could convert into a second double berth.
On every model, the bilge was designed to take the water and fuel tanks. This lowers the center of gravity while freeing stowage space in the cabin.
Model Evolution, Refits, and Ownership
The MkX changes show the builder responding to demands for more accommodation and an updated profile without disturbing the proven hull. Its additional three inches of freeboard, 33-foot hull length, and more streamlined deck moulding were the principal changes.
The MkXI’s introduction in 1977 brought the most significant helm upgrade in the series: optional wheel steering. Its glassfibre inner moulding also simplified interior finishing and maintenance.
The main structural concern for owners is osmotic blistering in early hulls, caused by the chopped-strand-mat and clear-resin layup used during the first years of production.
The Verdict
The Nicholson 32 is a thoroughly old-school offshore cruiser: heavily built, deeply ballasted, and blessed with a sea-kindly motion. She rewards patient sailing rather than speed-sailing tactics.
Her weaknesses—tight turning under power, substantial prop walk in reverse, and the risk of osmosis in early boats—are the trade-offs of a structurally overbuilt pocket voyager intended for long passages rather than marina hopping.
Pros
- One of the first production-built GRP yachts of her size, with a massively thick single-skin hull
- High ballast ratio and slender beam provide stiffness and directional stability
- Well-supported, single-spreader masthead rig can carry full sail up to Force 5
- Successive marks improved freeboard, interior light, and finish without abandoning the core hull philosophy
Cons
- Early hulls are prone to osmosis because of their chopped-strand-mat and clear-resin construction
- Long keel and small rudder produce a large turning circle under power
- Substantial prop walk in reverse
