BoatsNicholson 42

Nicholson 42

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · First built 1974

A 12.75-metre masthead sloop with a moderate 1.68-metre draft, balancing offshore capability with coastal accessibility

Designed by Raymond Wall, built by Camper.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
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 38 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 38
CoastalBluewater

1.73 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.73
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 403
EasygoingPowered-up

18.1 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 18.1
TenderStiff

39% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 39%

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

  • Heavier than ~76% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~80% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2655 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
39.4%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
18.1
Displacement / length
402.9
Comfort ratio
37.6
Capsize screening
1.73
Hull speed
7.2 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1268
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1974
Units built
14
Designer
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.

Pacific Seacraft 4012.85 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA William Crealock-designed cutter built for offshore stability with a conservative capsize screening of 1.73
Grand Soleil 40 (Polli)12.90 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Matteo Polli-designed fractional sloop optimized for ORC competition with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio
Tayana Vancouver 4212.73 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA heavy-displacement cutter with a 40% ballast ratio, designed for stable offshore passage-making since 1979
Rustler Yachts 4212.80 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.8-metre cutter with a 40% ballast ratio, engineered for heavy-weather stability and long-range blue water autonomy
Valiant Yachts 4212.80 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Robert Perry-designed offshore cutter featuring a skeg-hung rudder and a heavy displacement hull for blue-water stability
Moody 4212.74 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead ketch offered with a center cockpit and an optional inside steering station for all-weather cruising

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

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