Any thoughts on the Nicholson 30?

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sailor dave

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Hi
Does anyone have any thoughts on the Nicholson 30 of the mid seventys?
Problem areas to check, how she handles in heavy weather. Any information would be appreciated.
Regards Dave
 
You are probably aware of this (but as it is listed as a Nicholson 1/2 tonner your search engine may have overlooked it):

http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/nicholson-half-tonner/half-tonner.htm

Is this it? A pal of mine had one and did very well round the cans in local racing. Took it X channel in all sorts as well, no problem. Well put together, as you would expect.
I understand many had rod rigging and there are stories of crew members going aloft tack on tack to tension the upper shrouds. With rigging done up like banjo strings for much of its life, shroud fittings, mast step etc would be worth close inspection.
 
Also known as....

Jeanneau Rush which were not as popular in the UK but very popular on the continent.

P1010343.JPG


and of course it was also very popular in California - known as the Cal 9.2. which was raced OD!

http://www.angelfire.com/tn/santana525/cal92/cal92.html

Basically the same boat as the Nic 30 but better laid out down below. We raced and cruised ours - but note that are very well built - but light.

Regards
Donald
 
looks like Grimalkin the Nic 30 that survived the famous fastnet disaster and still survives somewhere to date

It was featured in the book "lost for dead" which is a good if harrowing read.

By all accounts very seaworthy in up to very extreme conditions
 
Nicholson 30

Hello

Many thanks for the information. The boat I am interested in does I think come under the name Nicholson 30 built before the 1/2 tonner as shown in yachtworld.com/kingsyachts. But its much the same size 29' LOA, 9'9" beam (different designer).
Out of curiosity can anyone tell me whats the significance of solid SS standing rigging? Does it require replacing more often, why did the builder use it?
I like the look of the Nic 32 however I dont think I can stretch to one!

thanks again

regards

Dave
 
sailor dave said:
......Out of curiosity can anyone tell me whats the significance of solid SS standing rigging? Does it require replacing more often, why did the builder use it?
I like the look of the Nic 32 however I dont think I can stretch to one!
Click to expand...

The solid rigging is a racing refinement popular at the time. Very unlikely you would find it still on any boat you might be considering.

The Nicholson 32 is a fine boat, though you might find it a bit steady for inshore work.
 
Nic 30

I owned one for a while, enjoyed her a lot, no real vices, possibly a bit cramped below by todays standards. If she has been maintained you shouldn't have any surprises.
 
If the Nic 30 is anything like the Jeanneau Rush expect a boat that needs to be sailed flat in the gusts or else it turns to windward (broaches) like there's no tomorrow.Even if the main is dumped early it still broaches.Both shoal and deep draft are equally affected.Don't ask how I know.They're otherwise quite fast although I would beat them regularly on my Douglas Peterson half tonner two feet shorter.
 
sailor dave said:
Hello

Many thanks for the information to date. The bit about it broaching isn't too good. Is is possible to clarify which boat does this? Is it the 1/2 tonner designed by ron Holland or the Nicholson 30 as shown in http://www.yachtworld.com/kingsyacht/kingsyacht_6.html ?

thanks again

Dave
Click to expand...

I was refering to the Ron Holland designed Jeanneau Rush.It's very similar to the Nic 30 although there may be crucial diferences.
 
Nic 30?

Hi Sailor Dave,

I owned a Nic' 30 for a good few years and would have one again. A great boat for fast cruising, good in all airs, likes to sail on its ear (10 to 20 degrees of heel) due to it's pronounced tumblehome. Is very fast to windward but does roll on a dead run.

No real problems with the general build, good solid lay up by Halmatic, some were finished at home and some were finished by Nicholsons. A fixed saloon table and a rear facing nav' table to Starboard were the marks of the Factory finished boat. All deck hard ware should be fixed through s/steel plates embedded into the GRP. The windows some times show signs of leaking esp' the curved front window. The fore hatch has probably been replaced by now.
Expect some water ingress / egress from the huge transom hung rudder. The rudder is foam cored and will probably be ready for a good service (PM me for more info on how to do this).

Just writing this reminds me how much I liked ours.

Simes
 
Nicholson 30 any thoughts

Simes Hi

Many thanks for the information Ive looked at one very recently and notice that the boat has an inner forestay, Does this cause problems with the genoa when tacking?

Dave
 
It is not an "inner forestay", but a babystay instead if forward lowers. It shouldn't have much effect when tacking, mine doesn't.

I have a CS27, designed by Camper & Nicholson, Ray Wall actually when he was head designer at C&N. It is almost exactly like the 30 but smaller and a very good sailer.
 
wetzel said:
The 32 is a much better boat
Click to expand...

You can't just say better: if they were cars the Nic 30 is an MGB, the Nic 32 a Toyota pickup.

Both are very good boats in their own way. If you plan to sail in places where you will get frequently get very heavy weather, or go long-distance, the Nic 32 would be the obvious choice. For ordinary coastal cruising and to be able to cope with typical "yachtsmans gales" - avoiding the really extreme stuff by listening to forecasts, the Nic 30 is cheaper, faster and probably more fun.
 
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Sorry to be a wet blanket, I've just bought a Nicholson 30 MkII, and I've sailed a couple of Nicholson Half Tonners, and I grew up sailing a Nicholson 345, and this confusion between the Nicholson 30 (Ray Wall), and the Nicholson Half Tonner (Ron Holland) doesn't half get my back up... Some people even get confused between the Nicholson Half Tonner and the Nicholson 303: They share the same hull and perhaps the same rudder, but that's it.

People really should ensure they're correct before posting comments.
 
sailor dave said:
Hi
Does anyone have any thoughts on the Nicholson 30 of the mid seventys?
Problem areas to check, how she handles in heavy weather. Any information would be appreciated.
Regards Dave
Click to expand...

Learned to sail on one out of Poole - called Booby. Always wondered whether it was still going. 'Solid' was what I remember, and went to windward well when the wind got up.
 
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