Design and Construction
The Nicholson 42 has a solid-laminate fiberglass hull, a lead fin keel, and a skeg-hung rudder. She displaces 22,400 pounds and carries 8,818 pounds of lead ballast, giving a ballast ratio of 39 percent. Her displacement-to-length ratio is about 403, placing her among ultra-heavy cruisers.
A beam of 12.17 feet produces a length-to-beam ratio of 3.44. Wetted surface is about 387 square feet, while the immersion rate is roughly 1,237 pounds per inch. The fin keel draws 5.5 feet, allowing the boat to use most marinas.
Rig and Handling
The Nicholson 42 carries a masthead sloop rig with 897 square feet of sail area and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.06. Period specifications list a mainsheet about 105 feet long and 14 mm in diameter. Jib and genoa sheets are about 42 feet long at the same diameter, while spinnaker sheets are about 92 feet long.
Her capsize screening value is 1.73, and her Motion Comfort Ratio is 37.4. Both place her in a reassuring range for bluewater passage-making. The theoretical hull speed is 7.2 knots, consistent with a displacement hull of her length.
Accommodations
The heavy displacement and generous beam suggest ample volume below. However, no berth count, galley plan, or head layout has been published for the design. The available material also provides no details about interior materials or finish.
Known Issues
No construction defects, structural weaknesses, or systemic failures are documented for the Nicholson 42. The only cautions facing a buyer are those generally associated with a low-production, solid-fiberglass boat from the 1970s.
Refits and Ownership
Only a few Nicholson 42s were built, and no end date for production is stated. It remains a low-volume design with a small circle of owners. The simple masthead rig and robust lead-fin underwater profile mean refits usually focus on systems rather than structure.
The Verdict
The Nicholson 42 is a quietly serious offshore cruiser from the mid-1970s Camper & Nicholson drawing board. Built in tiny numbers, she combines a solid fiberglass hull with a lead fin keel. Her numbers describe a stiff, comfortable, heavy-displacement passage-maker rather than a light-air performer. She is more a collector’s rarity than a fleet boat.
Pros
- Ultra-heavy-cruiser displacement and a 39 percent ballast ratio for offshore stability
- Solid fiberglass hull, lead fin keel, and skeg-hung rudder
- Comfort and capsize ratios in the bluewater-suitable range
- 5.5-foot draft allows access to most marinas
Cons
- Low sail-area-to-displacement ratio limits light-air pace
- Only a few were built, so spares and comparative survey data are scarce
- No published details of the interior or systems
