Production ran from 1966 to 1975. Roughly 134 hulls were completed before the boat was retired as too expensive to build.
Design and Construction
The Nicholson 38 has a solid-GRP hull moulded by Halmatic and finished by Camper & Nicholsons. Many examples were built under Lloyd’s survey, and the design has a reputation for robust GRP construction. The deck is also GRP, with reinforced areas beneath the hardware.
When C&N received the Alden drawings, it converted the centre-boarder into a conventional long-keeler. The resulting hull has a cutaway forefoot and an attached rudder at the keel’s trailing edge. Lead ballast is encapsulated within the long keel and securely bolted to the hull.
The Nicholson 38 is 37'10" long and displaces 15,904 lb. Its 7,000 lb of ballast gives a ballast ratio near 0.44, while the motion-comfort figure is around 35.5.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The masthead ketch rig carries about 660 square feet of sail, giving a sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 16.8. The ketch arrangement makes reefing straightforward and works particularly well on a reach or broad reach.
Underway, the helm is light and the boat tracks beautifully. She’s steady, predictable, and reassuring in a blow, though she isn’t quick in light winds and is happiest sailing upwind in a steady breeze. In moderate winds, she holds a comfortable 6–7 knots. In stronger conditions, she often outperforms lighter boats that begin to slam or reef early.
Her displacement-length ratio is near 361, and the capsize screening figure is 1.67. As expected of a heavy long-keeler, she won’t point as high as a modern fin-keel cruiser. Manoeuvring astern can also be difficult because of the long keel and prop walk.
Cockpit and Accommodation
The centre cockpit and semi-enclosed wheelhouse provide a sheltered working area well suited to northern waters. Below, the Nicholson 38 follows a traditional cruising layout, with a forward cabin, compact saloon, amidships galley and heads, and a separate aft cabin reached from the cockpit.
One main configuration covered the production run: masthead ketch, centre cockpit, wheelhouse, and aft cabin. There were no mainstream shoal-draft, centreboard, or bilge-keel variants.
The arrangement suits extended cruising or liveaboard life. The boat’s forgiving nature also appeals to couples and older sailors who value manageable sail handling.
Engines and Ownership
Many Nicholson 38s still have their Perkins 4.107 or 4.108 diesel engines. That can be a practical legacy for owners comfortable with the brand’s long service history.
Examples remain in use around the world, and the design is well suited to long-distance cruising. Ownership rewards sailors who accept the character of a steady, heavy cruiser rather than expecting marina showmanship.
Known Issues and Refit Priorities
Prospective owners should allow for age-related refit work, particularly around the windows, chainplates, and rudder. Owners often report corrosion in the aluminium-framed portlights and their fasteners. These frames are mechanically fastened through the GRP rather than bonded.
The stainless-steel chainplates are bolted to substantial GRP knees, but they’re hidden behind interior mouldings. Several owners have found crevice corrosion or cracked nuts in this area. Some owners have also reported age-related problems with the rudder stock and internal structure.
The robust GRP hull and Lloyd’s-surveyed construction mean the structural fundamentals are sound, but these predictable wear points call for planned attention rather than surprise.
The Verdict
The Nicholson 38 is a serious bluewater ketch that trades outright speed in light air for steadiness, shelter, and manageable offshore handling. Her Alden-Mistral roots and Camper & Nicholsons finishing produced a reliable, solid long-keeler. Today, age calls for vigilance in a few targeted refit areas rather than wholesale doubt about the design.
Pros
- Steady, predictable, and reassuring in strong winds, with a light helm and good tracking
- Sheltered centre cockpit and wheelhouse, well suited to extended cruising or northern waters
- 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
- Slow in light winds and unable to point as high as modern fin-keel cruisers
- Difficult to manoeuvre astern because of the long keel and prop walk
- Potential age-related corrosion and deterioration around the portlight frames, chainplate nuts, and rudder stock
