Nicholson 36 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Most Nicholson 36s on the brokerage market follow a classic centre-cockpit arrangement that was ambitious for the era. The aft cabin, tucked beneath the cockpit, typically offers a generous double berth and reasonable standing headroom at the entrance, making the boat genuinely capable of cruising two couples in privacy. Forward, the traditional V-berth cabin serves either as a second double or as generous storage, depending on how the boat has been used. The saloon is the heart of the layout, with settee berths port and starboard and a drop-leaf table that creates a dining area proper rather than an afterthought. The linear galley runs along one side of the companionway, often with a gimballed stove, deep sink, and top-opening fridge compartment. Opposite, the navigation station is compact but workable — a dedicated chart desk that many owners have since adapted to house modern electronics. Head compartments vary; some boats have a single heads forward of the saloon, while a number were fitted with a second heads serving the aft cabin, a configuration that significantly enhances liveaboard practicality. The joiner-work is unmistakably British, with solid teak trim, dovetailed drawers, and a warmth that later production boats rarely matched.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The brokerage listings paint a picture of a fleet that has been actively cruised rather than dockside-pampered. Boats commonly carry a chartplotter, autopilot, and solar installation, commonly supplemented by lithium batteries and an inverter — upgrades that reflect serious time spent away from shore power. A short-handed setup is widely seen, with lines led aft and self-steering gear either original or retrofitted. Many examples have completed transatlantic passages, and the gear list frequently backs that up: EPIRB, life raft, and a well-stocked spares inventory. A dodger is commonly fitted, and hot water is present on a large proportion of boats, though the system may be engine-heated or via a calorifier rather than a dedicated electric unit. A spinnaker is commonly included in the sail inventory. AIS and a bimini are often seen but not universal — some owners prefer the uncluttered lines of the original profile. What stands out is how many of these boats have been thoughtfully upgraded for long-distance work rather than cosmetically refreshed for quick sale. The Nicholson 36 attracts owners who invest in capability.

What to Inspect

Despite the Nicholson 36's reputation for solid construction, these are decades-old fibreglass hulls, and a thorough survey is essential. The hull is solidly laid up, but the hull-deck joint deserves close attention, since failed bedding can allow moisture into the laminate over time. The long keel with its lead ballast is a defining feature, providing directional stability and a capsize screening value of 1.48 that qualifies her for ocean racing under the formula, but the deep draft of roughly 1.80 to 1.90 metres limits marina access and demands careful scrutiny of the keel's leading edge and bottom for grounding damage Review of Nicholson 36. The masthead rig is straightforward, though the original mast step, chainplates, and standing rigging should be examined for crevice corrosion, especially if the boat has spent decades in a warm climate. Chainplates on these boats are often buried behind joinery, making inspection awkward but all the more necessary. The engine, commonly a marinised diesel in the 28-horsepower range, is adequate for the displacement but will be tired if not regularly serviced; access varies by installation and can be tight. Fuel tanks, originally mild steel on some builds, are a known concern — rust and pinhole leaks are not uncommon, and replacement with stainless or plastic is a frequent owner undertaking. The teak decks, if original, may be at the end of their service life, and the plywood substrate beneath warrants careful moisture-meter work. Electrics on a boat of this vintage will have been modified many times over; look for a coherent, labelled system rather than a rat's nest. The Motion Comfort Ratio of 44.65 places her among the most comfortable of similar designs, but that comfort depends on structural integrity — a soggy deck or compromised rig turns a seakindly passage-maker into a project Review of Nicholson 36.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Nicholson 36 turns up most often in the United Kingdom, with further examples surfacing in the United States and across the Caribbean, reflecting the ocean-crossing habits of her owners. She was never built in large numbers, so the market is thin but steady, with boats tending to change hands among enthusiasts rather than through high-turnover brokerages. Buyers should approach each example on its merits rather than chasing a particular year or specification. The checklist is short but non-negotiable: verify the hull-deck joint and deck structure, inspect the keel and rudder for grounding damage, budget for standing rigging replacement unless recently documented, scrutinise the fuel system, and ensure the electrical refit has been done to a professional standard. In return, you get a yacht with a displacement-length ratio of 429 — an ultra-heavy cruiser — that will look after you when the weather turns, track as though on rails, and draw knowing nods in any anchorage. The Nicholson 36 is not the fastest, not the roomiest, and certainly not the easiest in a tight marina, but she remains one of the most honest sea boats ever to come out of a British mould.