Nicholson 39 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Nicholson 39 means chasing a scarce mid-seventies ketch from Camper & Nicholson Ltd., a solid-fibreglass, long-keeled cruiser whose low production counts make any purchase a matter of patience and survey discipline rather than rapid comparison shopping.
Layouts on the Used Market
Both owner three-cabin and charter four-cabin arrangements are well represented among available boats, and ex-charter examples are common on the used market. The charter history means buyers should expect higher-cycle interior wear on four-cabin boats, while owner versions likely preserve the original three-cabin cruising intent. Either layout sits atop the same 39-foot hull with an 11.5-foot beam and the 18,000-pound displacement that defines the class.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market these boats commonly carry heating, solar, lithium batteries, an inverter, bow thruster, dodger, teak decks, radar, AIS, autopilot, chartplotter, and life raft as fitted equipment. Often-seen additions include spinnaker or asymmetric spinnaker, freezer, washing machine, bimini, dinghy davits, cockpit shower, and Starlink. The baseline design may be equipped with an inboard Ford diesel engine and a ketch rig with 14 mm sheets throughout, so most upgrades layer modern navigation and comfort systems onto that foundation rather than altering the core platform.
What to Inspect
The documented record on the Nicholson 39 names no systemic structural or rigging defects, but the boat's immersion rate of about 202 kg/cm (1,136 lbs/inch) means load condition directly affects draft between 1.68 and 1.78 meters, so surveyors should confirm actual loaded draft against the keel and marina claims load condition directly affects draft. Her displacement-length ratio of 454 places her among the heaviest cruisers, and the solid fibreglass hull should be checked for age-appropriate laminate soundness rather than any named fault. The Ford diesel installation, where present, warrants standard vintage-engine inspection, and the ketch rig's 29.7-meter mainsheet and 26.2-meter spinnaker sheet indicate the scale of running rigging to be renewed.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets for the Nicholson 39 are the United Kingdom, Italy, and the Netherlands. Buyers should plan for a slow search given the sub-100 build total and verify the specific layout—owner three-cabin or ex-charter four-cabin—against intended use.
- Confirm loaded draft and hull laminate condition in survey
- Verify Ford diesel status and running rigging diameter (14 mm baseline)
- Distinguish ex-charter from owner layout before offer
- Expect common modern equipment but budget for systems refresh
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Nicholson 39. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 3 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 2 | $ 74,576 | — |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $ 101,083 | +35.5% |
| Jul 26 | 1 | $ 105,800 | +4.7% |
Where they're listed
Nicholson 39 listings appear across 2 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 4 (80.0%), followed by Netherlands.
Country view
5 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $ 101,083 | 4 | 1 | 80.0% |
| Netherlands | $ 48,070 | 1 | 0 | 20.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
7 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholson 32 | 32' | $ 16,512 | 22 | 6 |
| Nicholson 36 | 36.25' | $ 29,000 | 17 | 3 |
| Nicholson 38 | 37.83' | $ 33,698 | 13 | 7 |
| Moody 39 | 38.58' | $ 53,850 | 12 | 3 |
| Nicholson Nicholson 35 | 35.25' | $ 41,371 | 10 | 3 |
| Oyster Yachts 39 | 40.68' | $ 42,562 | 6 | 1 |
| Nicholson 39You are here | — | $ 101,095 | 5 | 1 |