Design and Construction
The Nicholson 45 has a 43-foot-8-inch solid-fibreglass hull, a 32-foot waterline, and a displacement of 24,640 pounds. Camper & Nicholson Ltd. fitted her with a lead fin keel drawing roughly 7 feet 1 inch to 7 feet 4 inches, depending on load.
Her length-to-beam ratio of 3.67 makes her slimmer than 82 percent of comparable designs. A displacement-length ratio of 336 places her firmly among heavy cruisers. The immersion rate—about 1,327 pounds per inch—indicates a hull that resists being pushed down by added gear and stores.
The wet bottom surface is about 42 m2 (452 sq ft), the trade-off a long-waterline cruiser accepts for stability and volume. Raymond Wall’s influence is visible in the conservative masthead-sloop rig and a hull shaped for offshore 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. Those dimensions describe a deck plan arranged for controlled sail handling on a boat of this size, rather than minimalist short-handed sailing.
Under power, the Nicholson 45 may carry a 37-horsepower Perkins 4.108 diesel, giving a calculated maximum of about 5.2 knots. An optional 40-horsepower Yanmar 3JH36 raises that figure to about 5.4 knots. Either way, she remains a displacement hull, with a theoretical maximum speed under sail of 7.6 knots.
A capsize screening value of 1.64 and a motion comfort ratio of 39.3 frame her as a steady sea boat intended to look after her crew offshore. That comfort ratio is reported as more comfortable than 85 percent of similar sailboats.
Accommodation and Tankage
Below, the Nicholson 45 has three separate cabins, sleeping space for six, and a head. The arrangement gives the crew private sleeping spaces while leaving the central saloon and galley to serve the full complement. It’s a layout typical of a serious cruiser rather than a charter platform.
Fresh-water capacity is 270 litres, while the fuel tank holds 160 litres. Those figures suit extended cruising by a small group without frequent replenishment.
The Verdict
The Nicholson 45 is a rare, heavy-displacement cruiser from the early 1970s, designed by Camper & Nicholson with Raymond Wall. Her slim beam, high comfort ratio, and conservative rig make her a stable offshore vessel; she also has a solid-fibreglass hull and lead fin keel. Because only a handful were built, however, any surviving example will be a singular find rather than part of a common market type.
Pros
- Heavy-cruiser displacement and a comfort ratio reported as better than 85 percent of similar designs
- Lead fin keel with a moderate 7-foot draft and solid-fibreglass construction
- Three cabins, six berths, and practical capacities of 270 litres of water and 160 litres of fuel
Cons
- Only a few boats were built, limiting familiarity and spares commonality
- Slim proportions and heavy displacement favor passage-making over nimble coastal sailing
- Calculated motoring speed is below 5.5 knots with either listed engine option
