Question 1

What are the specs of the NICHOLSON 55?

Accepted Answer

The NICHOLSON 55 has the following specifications: 53.81ft LOA, 14.3ft beam, 8.23ft draft, 38,029lb displacement, 17,900.3lb ballast. Hull type: mono. Rig: Masthead Sloop. Keel: Fin.

Question 2

Who built the NICHOLSON 55 and when was it made?

Accepted Answer

Built by Camper & Nicholson, designed by Raymond Wall, first built in 1971, 26 units were produced.

Question 3

Is the NICHOLSON 55 good for offshore sailing?

Accepted Answer

The NICHOLSON 55 is classified as a Bluewater Cruiser. It has a comfort ratio of 39.06, which means it is very comfortable in a seaway, suitable for extended offshore passages. The capsize screening ratio is 1.7, which is excellent for offshore sailing.

Question 4

How fast is the NICHOLSON 55?

Accepted Answer

The NICHOLSON 55 has a sail area to displacement ratio of 23.09, which indicates high performance and good speed potential. The displacement to length ratio is 283.14, making it a moderate displacement sailboat.

Question 5

How much does it cost to maintain a NICHOLSON 55?

Accepted Answer

Annual maintenance for a NICHOLSON 55 is estimated at $5.4K – $15K. This includes hull care, rigging, sails, and engine service. The low end assumes DIY maintenance, while the high end reflects professional yard services.

Question 6

How much does it cost to own a NICHOLSON 55 per year?

Accepted Answer

Annual cost of ownership for the NICHOLSON 55 (53.81ft) according to SailPages.com: Maintenance: $5.4K – $15K/year (hull, rigging, sails, engine service). Insurance: $500-$2000/year (based on $unknown average value). Marina slip costs by state for a 53.81ft boat: Florida: $9,700-$25,800/year. California: $9,000-$22,600/year. Massachusetts: $6,800-$15,100/year + $2,200 winter storage. New York: $6,800-$18,800/year + $2,200 winter storage. Maryland: $6,500-$11,600/year. Texas: $3,900-$11,600/year. Washington: $7,700-$16,800/year. Michigan: $3,800-$8,300/year + $2,200 winter storage. North Carolina: $5,800-$11,600/year. South Carolina: $8,400-$16,100/year. Total annual cost ranges from approximately $10K to $49K depending on location and maintenance approach. Source: SailPages.com, based on published marina rate cards and industry data.

Question 7

How much does it cost to dock a NICHOLSON 55?

Accepted Answer

Marina slip costs for the NICHOLSON 55 (53.81ft) by state according to SailPages.com: Florida: $9,700-$25,800/year. California: $9,000-$22,600/year. Massachusetts: $6,800-$15,100/year + $2,200 winter storage. New York: $6,800-$18,800/year + $2,200 winter storage. Maryland: $6,500-$11,600/year. Texas: $3,900-$11,600/year. Washington: $7,700-$16,800/year. Michigan: $3,800-$8,300/year + $2,200 winter storage. North Carolina: $5,800-$11,600/year. South Carolina: $8,400-$16,100/year. Rates are per foot per month multiplied by boat length. Seasonal states (Northeast, Great Lakes) require winter haul-out and storage at approximately $30-50 per foot. Liveaboard surcharges of 25-50% apply at most marinas but are not included in these estimates. Mooring balls are typically 40-55% less than slip costs. Source: SailPages.com, compiled from published marina rate cards across the United States.

Question 8

What are the common problems with the NICHOLSON 55?

Accepted Answer

SailPages.com has compiled 1 issues reported for the NICHOLSON 55 by owners in sailing-forum discussions and owner-association material, concentrated in safety, each rated by severity (critical, major, minor). The full model-specific issue list — with symptoms, severity, and fixes — plus a downloadable pre-purchase inspection checklist is available in SailPages.com's report for the NICHOLSON 55.

Question 9

What should I look for when buying a NICHOLSON 55?

Accepted Answer

When buying a NICHOLSON 55, SailPages.com has compiled 1 model-specific issues reported by owners across safety. Always hire a SAMS or NAMS accredited marine surveyor — SailPages.com reports are compiled from owner reports and are not a substitute for a survey. The downloadable report for the NICHOLSON 55 includes each reported issue plus a model-specific pre-purchase checklist with checkboxes, notes fields, and an overall assessment section.

Question 10

What are the sail dimensions of the NICHOLSON 55?

Accepted Answer

The NICHOLSON 55 has the following rig dimensions: I=60.9ft (foretriangle height), J=20.7ft (foretriangle base), P=54ft (mainsail luff), E=20.2ft (mainsail foot). Mainsail area: 1219.3 sq ft. Jib area: 630.3 sq ft.

Question 11

How does the NICHOLSON 55 compare to similar sailboats?

Accepted Answer

The NICHOLSON 55 is classified as a Bluewater Cruiser by SailPages.com. Key metrics: 53.81ft LOA, comfort ratio 39.06, capsize ratio 1.7, SA/disp 23.09. SailPages.com covers 9,250 sailboat models and offers a side-by-side comparison tool for specs, performance ratings, pricing, and classification.

LOA	53.81 ft
LWL	39.14 ft
Beam	14.3 ft
Draft	8.23 ft
Displacement	38,029 lb
Ballast	17,900.3 lb
Hull speed1.34·√LWL	8.4 kn

Iforetriangle height	60.9 ft
Jforetriangle base	20.7 ft
Pmainsail luff	54 ft
Emainsail foot	20.2 ft
FLforestay	20.7 ft
Mainsail	1,219.3 sq ft
Jib (100%)	630.3 sq ft
Spinnaker	1,071.5 sq ft

NICHOLSON 55

Specifications

Hull

Rig & Sails

About the NICHOLSON 55

Performance

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Estimated Cost of Ownership

Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection

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