Nicholson 48 Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a used Nicholson 48 means chasing one of 42 ketch-rigged cruisers built by Halmatic Ltd and Camper & Nicholson in the UK. These are heavy-displacement offshore boats with a keel-stepped mast and solid fiberglass construction, and the small production run shapes both their character and the practical realities of owning one.
Layouts on the Used Market
On every example the sleeping plan takes eight souls in four cabins — two doubles aft, a double forward, and a single in the passageway — with two heads, one featuring a shower. The beamy hull yields a roomy interior the press liked, so differences between boats are owner soft furnishings rather than structure.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Used Nicholson 48s commonly carry air conditioning, inverter, bow thruster, teak decks, autopilot, chartplotter, EPIRB, and life raft. Power and energy clusters (inverter, air conditioning) draw heavily on house banks, so verify the charging path and battery condition. Navigation and safety (autopilot, chartplotter, EPIRB, life raft) should be dated and serviced. A bow thruster eases handling on a 31,300-pound hull; teak decks are a future maintenance item rather than a free benefit.
What to Inspect
The keel-stepped mast passes through the hull and can cause leaks or corrosion if neglected, so check the step for stains, softness, or rust and smell for damp in the bilge below anchor. Owners report limited spare parts, so confirm engine and rigging consumables are obtainable. High maintenance costs are acknowledged; survey the solid hull against aged systems original to a 1970s build.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Nicholson 48s typically appear in Greece and Ireland. Before you buy:
- Check the keel-stepped mast bedding for leaks or corrosion.
- Verify spare-part availability for engine and rig.
- Budget for high maintenance on aged systems.
- Confirm inverter and air conditioning draw against house capacity.
- Service autopilot and chartplotter records.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Nicholson 48. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 5 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 1 | $85,047 | — |
| Oct 25 | 1 | $37,062 | -56.4% |
| Mar 26 | 1 | $37,062 | 0.0% |
| Apr 26 | 2 | $37,062 | 0.0% |
| Aug 26 | 2 | $73,751 | +99.0% |
Where they're listed
Nicholson 48 listings appear across 2 countries. Greece has the most listings with 4 (66.7%), followed by Spain.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camper & Nicholsons 42 | 41.83' | $ 20,000 | 8 | 3 |
| Nicholson 48You are here | — | $ 37,054 | 6 | 2 |
| Hans Christian 48 | 47.83' | $ 247,383 | 5 | 2 |
| Nicholson 39 | 39' | $ 99,251 | 5 | 3 |