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Nicholson 48
Designer: Camper & Nicholson/Raymond Wall  ·  Builder: Halmatic (Uk)  ·  First built: 1972
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About the Nicholson 48

Designed by the renowned team at Camper & Nicholson in collaboration with Raymond Wall, this classic ketch represents British yacht building excellence from the early 1970s. Built by Halmatic in the UK starting in 1972, only 42 of these distinctive vessels were produced, making them relatively rare finds in today's market. The masthead ketch rig configuration provides excellent sail handling options for cruising sailors, allowing for balanced sail combinations in varying conditions. With a displacement of 31,300 pounds and substantial ballast of 10,025 pounds, she offers the stability and seaworthiness expected from a serious offshore cruising yacht. The fin keel with rudder on skeg arrangement delivers good performance while maintaining directional stability. Her generous beam of nearly 13 feet creates spacious accommodations below, while the moderate sail area keeps her manageable for smaller crews. The comfort ratio of 41.79 indicates this yacht prioritizes seakeeping ability over pure speed, making her well-suited for extended offshore passages and comfortable coastal cruising. With a theoretical hull speed of 7.85 knots and proven construction quality typical of Camper & Nicholson designs, the Nicholson 48 remains a respected choice among serious cruising sailors seeking a traditional, well-built yacht capable of handling challenging conditions with grace.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 47.67 ft / 14.53 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 34.33 ft / 10.46 m
Beam 12.92 ft / 3.94 m
Max Draft 7.00 ft / 2.13 m
Displacement 31,300.00 lb / 14,197 kg
Ballast 10,025.00 lb / 4,547 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 746.00 ft² / 69.31 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction FG
Designer Camper & Nicholson/Raymond Wall
Builder Halmatic (UK)
First Built 1972
Number Built 42
Related Sailboats ["Swan 48 Ss" · "Cal 48" · "Maple Leaf 48" · "Landfall 48 Cc" · "Gulfstar 47 Sailmaster"]
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 120
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 12.07
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 32.03
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 345.36
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 41.79
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.64
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.85 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 1.08
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,584.83 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 12.06
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 51.50 ft / 15.70 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.50 ft / 4.72 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 45.30 ft / 13.81 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.30 ft / 4.66 m
SA Fore 399.13 ft² / 37.08 m²
SA Main 346.55 ft² / 32.20 m²
SA Total (100%) 745.68 ft² / 69.28 m²
Est. Forestay Length 53.78 ft / 16.39 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Model 4-236
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 72
How It Compares

vs. Cal 48, Landfall 48 Cc, Maple Leaf 48

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Nicholson 48 ★
47.7 ft
Cal 48
47.8 ft
Landfall 48 Cc
47.5 ft
Maple Leaf 48
47.7 ft
LWL
Nicholson 48 ★
34.3 ft
Cal 48
35.0 ft
Landfall 48 Cc
37.3 ft
Maple Leaf 48
40.5 ft
Beam
Nicholson 48 ★
12.9 ft
Cal 48
12.0 ft
Landfall 48 Cc
14.0 ft
Maple Leaf 48
14.7 ft
Displacement
Nicholson 48 ★
31 lbs
Cal 48
25 lbs
Landfall 48 Cc
31 lbs
Maple Leaf 48
34 lbs
Ballast
Nicholson 48 ★
10 lbs
Cal 48
9 lbs
Landfall 48 Cc
12 lbs
Maple Leaf 48
9 lbs
Sail Area
Nicholson 48 ★
746 sq ft
Cal 48
—
Landfall 48 Cc
958 sq ft
Maple Leaf 48
1 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Nicholson 48 ★
120 s/nm
Cal 48
96 s/nm
Landfall 48 Cc
—
Maple Leaf 48
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Nicholson 48 ★
12.1
Cal 48
—
Landfall 48 Cc
15.4
Maple Leaf 48
17.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Nicholson 48 ★
32.0 %
Cal 48
38.0 %
Landfall 48 Cc
—
Maple Leaf 48
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Nicholson 48 ★
41.8
Cal 48
—
Landfall 48 Cc
36.0
Maple Leaf 48
34.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Nicholson 48 ★
1.64
Cal 48
—
Landfall 48 Cc
1.77
Maple Leaf 48
1.82
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Nicholson 48 ★
345
Cal 48
260
Landfall 48 Cc
—
Maple Leaf 48
—
Hull Speed
Nicholson 48 ★
7.9 kts
Cal 48
—
Landfall 48 Cc
8.2 kts
Maple Leaf 48
8.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Nicholson 48 ★
1.1
Cal 48
—
Landfall 48 Cc
1.8
Maple Leaf 48
2.1
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