Design and Construction
Camper & Nicholson Ltd. built the Nicholson 45 in fibreglass with a solid hull and a lead fin keel drawing roughly 7 feet 1 inch to 7 feet 4 inches depending on load anchor. At a length-to-beam ratio of 3.67 she is slimmer than 82 percent of comparable designs, and her displacement-length ratio of 336 places her firmly among heavy cruisers. The immersion rate of about 1,327 pounds per inch speaks to a hull that resists being pushed down by gear and stores, while a wet bottom surface of about 42 m2 (452 sq ft) is the trade-off a beamy, long-waterline cruiser accepts for stability and volume. Raymond Wall's hand is visible in a conservative masthead-sloop rig on a hull tuned for passage-making rather than the race course.
Rig and Handling
The masthead rig carries a genoa and jib on 43.7-foot sheets of 5/8-inch diameter, with a 109-foot mainsheet and a 96-foot spinnaker sheet of the same size anchor. Those dimensions describe a deck plan laid out for controlled sail handling on a boat of this size rather than minimalist short-handed sailing. Under power she may carry a Perkins 4.108 diesel at 37 horsepower, giving a calculated maximum of about 5.2 knots, or optionally a Yanmar 3JH36 at 40 horsepower for about 5.4 knots; either way she is a displacement hull whose theoretical maximum speed is 7.6 knots under sail. The capsize screening value of 1.64 and a motion comfort ratio of 39.3 — reported as more comfortable than 85 percent of similar sailboats — frame her as a steady sea boat built to look after a crew offshore.
Accommodations
Below, the Nicholson 45 provides three separate cabins with sleeping space for six and includes a head anchor. Fresh water capacity is 270 litres and the fuel tank holds 160 litres, figures that suit extended cruising for a small group without frequent replenishment. The three-cabin arrangement in a hull of this beam gives private sleeping spaces while leaving the central saloon and galley to serve the full complement, a configuration typical of a serious cruiser rather than a charter platform.
The Verdict
The Nicholson 45 is a limited-production heavy-displacement cruiser from the early 1970s, designed by Camper & Nicholson with Raymond Wall and built in solid fibreglass with a lead fin keel. Her slim beam, high comfort ratio, and conservative rig make her a stable offshore vessel, though her rarity means any example will be a singular find rather than a common market type.
Pros
- Heavy-cruiser displacement and a comfort ratio better than 85 percent of similar designs
- Lead fin keel with moderate 7-foot draft and solid fibreglass construction
- Three cabins, six berths, and practical 270-litre water and 160-litre fuel capacity
Cons
- Only a few boats were built, limiting familiarity and spares commonality
- Slim beam and heavy displacement suit passage-making over nimble coastal sailing
- Calculated motoring speed under 5.5 knots with either listed engine option
