Nicholson 38 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Three-cabin owner layouts are the more common configuration on the brokerage scene, with a forward cabin, a compact saloon, and a separate aft cabin accessed from the cockpit. Two-cabin versions also appear, though less commonly. Ex-charter examples are also common on the market. The centre cockpit and semi-enclosed wheelhouse remain constant across all examples, providing a sheltered working and living space that sets the Nicholson 38 apart.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Reflecting their bluewater usage, most boats on the used market are commonly fitted with heating, radar, a chartplotter and an autopilot. Solar panels and watermakers are also frequently installed, often as part of a self-sufficiency package. Teak decks are a common feature, though their condition varies widely and warrants close inspection. A life raft, hot water system and cockpit shower are often seen, and many boats carry a short-handed setup with lines led aft and easy sail handling. Owner upgrades sometimes add a wind generator, bimini, dodger or dinghy davits. Circumnavigations turn up fairly often among these boats, and transatlantic crossings are also sometimes recorded, both speaking to the design's long-distance capability and the confidence owners place in it.

What to Inspect

Any Nicholson 38 of this age demands a thorough survey, with particular attention to a handful of known areas. Chainplates and their supporting knees are a high-priority item; crevice corrosion and cracked fasteners have been discovered behind interior mouldings, so access for inspection is essential chainplate inspection a high‑priority survey item. The aluminium-framed portlights are prone to corrosion and persistent leaks, though refurbishment or replacement is straightforward aluminium frames often corrode; leaks are common. The rudder stock and internal blade structure should be checked for age-related deterioration, as some owners have reported issues there age‑related issues with the rudder stock and internal structure. Keel bolts and the surrounding hull structure need verification for weeping or movement. Many boats still carry their original Perkins 4.107 or 4.108 engines; a careful mechanical assessment is vital. Standing rigging should be replaced if its age is unknown, and the electrical system often requires significant tidying or rewiring. Interior cosmetics such as headlinings, varnish and mouldings are likely to need attention, but these are cosmetic rather than structural.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Nicholson 38 turns up across the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece and Croatia, with further examples found in New Zealand and Canada, reflecting the boat's global cruising footprint. A realistic buyer should approach the search with a clear-eyed view of the refit work likely needed on a yacht of this vintage, but the reward is a genuinely capable, comfortable offshore cruiser that looks after its crew when conditions deteriorate.

• Prioritise a survey that includes invasive chainplate and rudder inspection.
• Budget for window refurbishment and a rigging replacement if not recently documented.
• Expect to invest in engine, electrical and plumbing updates on all but the most diligently maintained examples.
• Look for a boat with a well-documented cruising history and recent upgrades rather than a cosmetically tidy but unproven vessel.
• Factor the wheelhouse and ketch rig into your sailing style: they excel in heavy weather and short-handed passagemaking, not light-air club racing.