Design and Construction
The Nicholson 38 carries a solid-GRP hull moulded by Halmatic and finished by Camper & Nicholsons, with many examples built under Lloyd's survey and a reputation for robust GRP construction. The long-keel hull was given a cutaway forefoot and an attached rudder at the keel's trailing edge, and the deck is GRP with reinforced zones beneath hardware. Ballast is lead, encapsulated within the long keel and bolted securely to the hull. When the Alden drawings were received, the centre-boarder was converted to a conventional long keeler, and the result is a 37'10" boat of 15,904 lb displacement with a 7,000 lb ballast ratio near 0.44 and a motion-comfort figure around 35.5.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead ketch with about 660 square feet of sail area and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 16.8, the Nicholson 38 is steady, predictable and reassuring in a blow, though not quick in light winds and happiest upwind in a steady breeze. The ketch rig makes reefing straightforward and shines on a reach or broad reach; the helm is light once underway and the boat tracks beautifully. With a displacement-length ratio near 361 and a capsize screening figure of 1.67, she holds a comfortable 6–7 knots in moderate winds and in stronger conditions often outperforms lighter boats that begin to slam or reef early. Manoeuvring astern can be challenging due to the long keel and prop walk, and she will not point as high as a modern fin-keel cruiser.
Accommodations
The centre cockpit and semi-enclosed wheelhouse create a sheltered working environment suited to northern waters, while the interior follows a traditional cruising layout: forward cabin, compact saloon, amidships galley and heads, and a separate aft cabin accessed from the cockpit. A single main configuration covered the production run—masthead ketch, centre cockpit, wheelhouse, aft cabin—with no mainstream shoal-draft, centreboard or bilge-keel variants. The arrangement suits extended cruising or liveaboard life, and the boat's forgiving nature appeals to couples and older sailors who value manageable sail handling.
Known Issues
Prospective owners should plan for age-related refit work concentrated at the windows, chainplates and rudder. Owners often report corrosion in the aluminium-framed portlights and their fasteners, which are mechanically fastened through the GRP rather than bonded. Several owners have discovered crevice corrosion or cracked nuts on the stainless chainplates—bolted to substantial GRP knees—hidden behind interior mouldings. Some owners have also reported age-related issues with the rudder stock and internal structure.
Refits and Ownership
Many Nicholson 38s still carry their Perkins 4.107 or 4.108 diesel engines, a practical legacy for owners comfortable with the brand's long service history. The robust GRP hull and Lloyd's-surveyed build mean structural fundamentals are sound, but the predictable wear points above demand planned attention rather than surprise. Suited to long-distance cruising and still in existence around the world, the design rewards owners who accept a steady, heavy cruiser in place of marina showmanship.
The Verdict
The Nicholson 38 is a serious bluewater ketch that trades outright speed in light air for steadiness, shelter and manageable handling offshore. Her Alden-Mistral roots and Camper & Nicholsons finishing produced a reliable, solid long-keeler whose age now dictates targeted refit vigilance rather than wholesale doubt.
Pros
- Steady, predictable and reassuring in strong winds with a light helm and good tracking
- Sheltered centre cockpit and wheelhouse ideal for extended or northern-water cruising
- Robust Halmatic-moulded GRP hull with lead ballast in a long keel
- Forgiving ketch rig that simplifies reefing and suits couples or older sailors
Cons
- Not quick in light winds and will not point as high as modern fin-keel cruisers
- Challenging to manoeuvre astern because of long keel and prop walk
- Age-related corrosion at portlight frames, chainplate nuts and rudder stock
