BoatsNicholson 32

Nicholson 32

Masthead Sloop · Long Keel · 1962–1981

A long-running production classic with a 55% ballast ratio, built over two decades for steady offshore passage making

Designed by Charles A. Nicholson & Peter Nicholson, built by Camper.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 37 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 37
CoastalBluewater

At 1.61 she sits well under the 2.0 line — a solidly ocean-capable hull for her size.

Capsize screening 1.61
LightHeavy

394 — very heavy for her waterline, a serious load-carrying cruiser.

Displacement / length 394
EasygoingPowered-up

14.2 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 14.2
TenderStiff

56% of her weight is ballast — very stiff, carrying full sail in a blow.

Ballast 56%

Built heavy and sea-kindly — a boat made to cross oceans and forgive a rough night.

  • Draws more than ~88% of boats her size on file

Compared with 428 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
55.7%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
14.2
Displacement / length
394.0
Comfort ratio
36.9
Capsize screening
1.61
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
793
Hull
Hull type
Long Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1962–1981
Units built
369
Designer
Charles A. Nicholson, Peter Nicholson
Builder
Camper, Nicholson, Halmatic Ltd, Nicholsons

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Allied Boat Co. Seawind9.30 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA Thomas Gillmer-designed masthead ketch with a long keel, marking both the beginning and the end of the Allied Boat Co.
Beneteau Evasion 329.70 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA long-keeled masthead ketch that launched the Evasion line and marked a new era for Beneteau
Rustler 319.58 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA heavy-displacement masthead sloop with a long keel, evolved from the North Sea 24 and sharing lineage with the Twister 31
Alden 32 Motor Sailer9.60 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterOriginally known as the Winsome Class, this masthead sloop features a long keel and was available in both sloop and ketch
Pacific Seacraft Orion 279.42 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA heavy-displacement cutter designed by Henry Mohrschladt for offshore stability and traditional long-keel handling
Cape Dory 30C9.21 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA cutter-rigged cruiser with a full keel and a 1.27-metre draft, built for steady performance between 1976 and 1987

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

The newsletter

New boats, new stories, from everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analyzed. No noise.

Report an issue