Nicholson 45 Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a used Nicholson 45 means chasing a rare bird: only a few were built by Camper & Nicholson Ltd. in the early seventies from a Raymond Wall design, so each surviving example is a small part of a very limited fleet. A buyer should approach her as a heavy-displacement offshore cruiser of 43 feet 8 inches with a 32-foot waterline, solid fibreglass hull, and lead fin keel, rather than a volume-production boat with abundant comparable listings.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Nicholson 45 was built offering three cabins and six berths along with a toilet facility, and a fresh water capacity of 270 litres against a 160-litre fuel tank. That three-cabin plan gives private quarters for a cruising family or couple with guests, while the tankage supports extended time away from port. Because so few were completed, layout variation between hulls is unlikely to be a major market factor, but buyers should confirm the specific arrangement and any owner modifications at survey.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Two diesel options appear in the records: a Perkins 4.108 at 37 horsepower or an optional Yanmar 3JH36 at 40 horsepower, the latter lifting calculated maximum speed from about 5.2 to 5.4 knots. For a buyer, the engine fitted and its service history matter more than most other gear on a boat this rare. The masthead-sloop rig uses 5/8-inch sheets throughout — 43.7-foot genoa and jib sheets, a mainsheet of 109 feet, and a spinnaker sheet running 96 feet — so rigging wear and winch condition are worth a close look. Beyond those, the boat's heavy-cruiser nature means any energy, canvas, or navigation upgrades should be judged against her 24,640-pound displacement and 7-foot-plus draft rather than modern lightweight expectations.
What to Inspect
The known parameters give a survey focus. The solid fibreglass hull and lead fin keel should be checked for osmotic or impact damage consistent with age, and the keel attachment and lead fin condition deserve attention given the 7-foot draft and 1,327-pound-per-inch immersion rate. With a wetted surface near 452 square feet and a displacement-length ratio of 336, any hull deformation or poorly executed repair will affect both motion and speed; the masthead rig's long sheets and standing rigging should be inspected for fatigue.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Nicholson 45 is not a common brokerage offering. A buyer should treat her as a bespoke early-seventies cruiser and verify identity, rig, and engine against the listed specifications.
- Confirm hull number and Camper & Nicholson Ltd. build provenance
- Inspect lead fin keel and solid fibreglass hull for age-related damage
- Verify which diesel — Perkins 4.108 or Yanmar 3JH36 — is installed
- Check masthead rigging and 5/8-inch sheet inventory for wear
- Review three-cabin layout and 270-litre water, 160-litre fuel tankage
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Nicholson 45. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $95,151 | — |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camper & Nicholsons 42 | 41.83' | $ 20,000 | 11 | 6 |
| Nicholson Nicholson 35 | 35.25' | $ 38,138 | 10 | 1 |
| Dufour Classic 45 | 45.92' | $ 104,803 | 9 | 1 |
| Oyster 45 | 44.33' | $ 285,538 | 4 | 0 |
| Frers 45 | 45' | $ 57,846 | 2 | 1 |