Nicholson 39 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for a Nicholson 39 means chasing a scarce Camper & Nicholson ketch with fewer than 100 hulls ever completed less than 100 boats have been built. These are British-built, long-keel cruisers whose used presence centers on Europe, and the right example rewards patience with offshore-capable mass and comfort.
Layouts on the Used Market
Both owner three-cabin and charter four-cabin arrangements appear on the market, with ex-charter boats a common sight. The charter history means some hulls carry higher interior wear, while owner versions may reflect more careful private use. Either layout serves a buyer weighing liveaboard space against proven passage-making hull form.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Well-represented examples commonly carry heating, solar, lithium batteries, an inverter, and a bow thruster — a cluster that speaks to independent power and easy close-quarters handling. Navigation and safety gear such as radar, AIS, autopilot, chartplotter, and life raft are also commonly fitted, alongside a dodger and teak decks. Less frequent owner additions include asymmetric spinnaker, freezer, washing machine, bimini, dinghy davits, cockpit shower, and Starlink, which a buyer should treat as bonuses rather than expected kit.
What to Inspect
The Nicholson 39 is built with a fiberglass hull and long keel hull is made of fibreglass. Verify the Ford diesel installation and the 284-liter fuel and 473-liter water capacities against the specific hull, and confirm the ketch rig's sheets — jib and genoa at about 11.9 meters, mainsheet at 29.7 meters — remain within period estimates. The immersion rate of roughly 202 kg per centimeter and wetted surface near 34 square meters are useful baselines when assessing load and hull condition.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Typical markets are the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Italy. A buyer should:
- Expect ex-charter four-cabin boats as a common tier
- Prioritize commonly fitted lithium, solar, and bow thruster for autonomy
- Confirm original Ford diesel and ketch rig dimensions
- Treat spinnaker or washing machine as owner upgrades, not standard
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 · 4 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 3 | $101,915 | — |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $101,915 | 0.0% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $68,963 | -32.3% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $95,053 | +37.8% |
Where they're listed
Nicholson 39 listings appear across 2 countries. United Kingdom has the most listings with 7 (87.5%), followed by Netherlands.
Country view
8 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $101,915 | 7 | 3 | 87.5% |
| Netherlands | $48,925 | 1 | 0 | 12.5% |
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' | $ 14,958 | 24 | 2 |
| Nicholson 36 | 36.25' | $ 29,000 | 16 | 1 |
| Nicholson 38 | 37.83' | $ 32,597 | 13 | 4 |
| Moody 39 | 38.58' | $ 54,261 | 12 | 2 |
| Nicholson Nicholson 35 | 35.25' | $ 39,393 | 10 | 2 |
| Oyster Yachts 39 | 40.68' | $ 52,401 | 9 | 3 |
| Nicholson 39You are here | — | $ 101,866 | 8 | 3 |