Nicholson 31
Description
The Nicholson 31 is a classic British-built cruising sailboat produced by Camper & Nicholsons (one of the oldest and most respected yacht builders, dating back to 1782) from around 1976 to 1980 (with some sources noting production into the early 1980s). Designed by Raymond Wall, it succeeded the popular Nicholson 32 and retained a similar "folkboat-inspired" ethos: a stout, seaworthy, long-keel cruiser optimized for serious offshore and long-distance passage-making in challenging conditions, while remaining manageable for coastal or single-handed use. It's renowned for exceptional build quality (heavy GRP/fiberglass construction with solid layup), excellent bluewater credentials, and a reputation as a "go-anywhere" boat—many have completed ocean voyages, including Atlantic crossings. Owners often praise its stability, predictable handling in heavy weather, and comfortable motion at sea, though it's not the fastest in light air due to its moderate displacement and conservative rig.
Construction Details
| Designer | Raymond Wall |
|---|---|
| Builder | Camper and Nicholsons |
| Length | 30.540 ft |
| LOA | 30.540 ft |
| LWL | 24.170 ft |
| Beam | 10.250 ft |
| Displacement | 13005 lb |
| Ballast | 4760 lb |
| Max Draft | 5.000 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 39.20 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 12.60 ft |
| p | 34.87 ft |
| e | 13.58 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39.20 ft | 12.60 ft | 34.87 ft | 13.58 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Nicholson 31 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 34.87 ft - (10628 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 13.58 ft - (4139 mm) |
| Leech | * 36.7 ft - (11186 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 36.98 ft - (11272 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 244.26 ft² |
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Nicholson 31 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 37.75 ft - (11506 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 14.75 ft - (4496 mm) |
| Leech | 34 ft - (10363 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 105.32 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 13.27 ft - (4045 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 8.09 ° |
| Area | * 250.42 ft² |
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Nicholson 31 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 34 ft - (10363 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 16.25 ft - (4953 mm) |
| Leech | 30.5 ft - (9296 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.63 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 14.57 ft - (4441 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 8.49 ° |
| Area | * 247.63 ft² |
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Nicholson 31 - GENOA
| Luff | * 39.12 ft - (11924 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 20.36 ft - (6206 mm) |
| Leech | * 36.78 ft - (11211 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 18.9 ft - (5761 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | * 369.71 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Nicholson 31 - GENOA
| Luff | * 39.12 ft - (11924 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 20.36 ft - (6206 mm) |
| Leech | * 36.78 ft - (11211 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 18.9 ft - (5761 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | * 369.71 ft² |
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Nicholson 31 - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | 40 ft - (12192 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 22 ft - (6706 mm) |
| Leech | 37 ft - (11278 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 660 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.