BoatsNicholson 40 DS

Nicholson 40 DS

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · First built 1977

A deck saloon cruiser featuring dual steering stations and a spacious interior layout on a proven Nicholson hull

Designed by Camper, Nicholson & Raymond Wall.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

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 44 — a heavy, notably soft motion offshore.

Comfort ratio 44
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

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

Displacement / length 457
EasygoingPowered-up

17.4 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 17.4

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

  • Heavier than ~83% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~76% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2742 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
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.4
Displacement / length
457.4
Comfort ratio
43.7
Capsize screening
1.61
Hull speed
7.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1164
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1977
Units built
19
Designer
Camper, Nicholson, Raymond Wall
Builder
Camper, Nicholson 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.

Moody 40 (Dixon)12.24 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA short-run 1990s cruiser featuring a fin keel and spade rudder, optimized for a balance of coastal performance
Hans Christian Christina 4012.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA fin-keeled cutter with a skeg-hung rudder, offering a more modern underwater profile for the Hans Christian fleet
Valiant Yachts 40-212.16 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Robert Perry-designed cutter built for offshore passage-making, featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a stiff, heavy hull
Dufour Yachts 405 Grand Large12.17 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12-meter cruiser featuring a 2.03m fin keel and a balanced displacement-to-ballast ratio for stable coastal passages
O'day 4012.06 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12-metre masthead sloop featuring an extended sugar scoop stern and a taller rig on later production models
Beneteau 4012.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 2007 Berret-Racoupeau design with a 1.9m draft, also marketed internationally as the Oceanis 40 and Moorings 41.3

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.

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