Nicholson 38 Ketch - thoughts?

[Stemar]

I wish the OP the best of luck finding the boat that suits him best.

+1

When I was helping a mate refurbish his boat several years ago, there was a Nic 38 in the yard and we both lusted after it. Absolutely not my kind of boat now for pottering around the Solent, but would definitely get my attention if I decided to sell up and sail. I've always said, "I don't want a boat that will look after me when I'm wishing I'd taken up golf, I want a boat that will still look after me when I'm wishing the damned thing would sink and put me out of my misery." I rather think that boat would do that.

 

[Topcat47]

I'd have one in a heartbeat if I were a bit younger. Not a Marina Queen, accommodation is not as generous as you'd find in a more modern boat but a really good seaboat. Nicholson's are renown for having a good solid lay up and as new the quality of the joinery was excellent. I like Ketches too as they have smaller individual sails. The mizzen is great when the going gets tough as you can sail quite well on jib and mizzen, OK it's not a lot of help when beating, but gentlemen don't sail to windward, I'm told. It's surprising how effective a mizzen staysail is down wind.

 

[[185615]]

Hi, i know this can be a how long is a piece of string question but i would like to get the thoughts of the collective on the matter please.

I'm looking to upgrade my boat to something larger and more long term, i am ok with DIY and have upgraded my boat considerably but have just sold it and in the market looking for another. my old boat was an old bavaria 32 holiday i have been sailing around the coast of UK/France CI etc for about 5-6 years, but now its time for something longer, more sea kindly perhaps and a little less exposed to weather

It has to be aspiration wise a full time liveaboard for 2 people, and ocean capable although it will spend most its life cruising Europe i will eventually cross the pond with it and even more so the pacific one day.

Dont get me wrong i loved my old boat she performed well and was capable, just not particularly quick with a short LWL and having to reef earlier than perhaps i liked to keep the weather helm off.

Things i like about the Nicholson 38...

- It's a ketch, and i have a strange affliction for ketches.
- The center cockpit is tucked away meaning i can hide from the wind on a long passage, something which used to drive me mad in the bav 32 if on a long cold passage, (i would end up huddling as close to the spray hood as possible!)
- The center cockpit again for its hard top potential and more solar panels!
- Its a heavy boat so will sail well i presume?
- its so old that i can rip out the interior and start again without effecting re-sale.

Things i dont like

- they're old...

i dont mind their age per say, as i dont mind having a re-rig or new engine etc, or are they just a money pit and im better of spending my money on something newer out the box ready almost?

i mean you know a 50 year old mast / engine / seacocks / plumbing / a rewire etc etc will soon get me to a budget i could spend on something newer/ more reliable?

also if anyone knows the nicholson 38 well, in the aft cabin i'd want it as a double, what actually hides behind the sink in there, could i rip it out and stick a double in sideways?
i did read you can extend the starboard bunk but its a "small double"

budget wise i was thinking £40k probably could stretch to 50k for a finished boat with me doing the majority of the work.

Brilliant boat, had one nearly 30 years. A real blue water with long pedigree, keep you safe in the worst of it.
Mine had a teak deck, was as good when i sold her as when bought, but that is down to careful maintenance.
The engine was a perkins 4108, show her the key away she went, no smoke burnt no oil. Again regular filters and oil changes keep them in good order.
Like you liked the ketch, but it produced very little power, mainly used it at anchor. I strengthened the foredeck from below, and installed an inner foresail to masthead, worked amazingly well with the 180 genoa. needed 15knt wind to get her 9+ tons moving.
The mizzen mast has a reputation for water ingress under it and therefore rotting, mine wasn't.
With all sails up on a reach she looked a picture.
The main was in-boom roller reefing worked well.
Interior very comfortable lots lockers. Loved the aft cabin, some have a tall locker some have a second heads, mine had the locker. personally would not wish to change it.
Highly recommend one, like all makes some are in better condition than others so look around. They were built to last, very strong boat, i understand they stopped building them due to the costs to do so.
There is an active '38 owners association which I found invaluable.
Good luck.
Going astern, as with most long keelers can be difficult berthing stern too, which is the best, as no amount of helm made any difference.

 

[Laminar Flow]

Brilliant boat, had one nearly 30 years. A real blue water with long pedigree, keep you safe in the worst of it.
Mine had a teak deck, was as good when i sold her as when bought, but that is down to careful maintenance.
The engine was a perkins 4108, show her the key away she went, no smoke burnt no oil. Again regular filters and oil changes keep them in good order.
Like you liked the ketch, but it produced very little power, mainly used it at anchor. I strengthened the foredeck from below, and installed an inner foresail to masthead, worked amazingly well with the 180 genoa. needed 15knt wind to get her 9+ tons moving.
The mizzen mast has a reputation for water ingress under it and therefore rotting, mine wasn't.
With all sails up on a reach she looked a picture.
The main was in-boom roller reefing worked well.
Interior very comfortable lots lockers. Loved the aft cabin, some have a tall locker some have a second heads, mine had the locker. personally would not wish to change it.
Highly recommend one, like all makes some are in better condition than others so look around. They were built to last, very strong boat, i understand they stopped building them due to the costs to do so.
There is an active '38 owners association which I found invaluable.
Good luck.
Going astern, as with most long keelers can be difficult berthing stern too, which is the best, as no amount of helm made any difference.

Alden was not known for designing lemons. I'm not sure how well he was known in the UK, but in America many think the sun rose and set on him.

 

[Tranona]

Alden was not known for designing lemons. I'm not sure how well he was known in the UK, but in America many think the sun rose and set on him.

That hull form was developed following tank testing in WW2 with S&S who also used it in several boats in the 50s, some fixed keel but many centreboards (and yawls) that were very popular for cruising New England and then down the Intracoastal to the Bahamas. The Alden centreboard version was also moulded by Halmatic and formed the basis of the Alden Challenger 38, 50 of which were built, mostly in Holland and Denmark. One for sale here
yachtsnet.co.uk/boats/b15820/b15820.htm

AFAIK the only 1 in the UK as most went to US