Camper Nicholson 38
Description
The Camper & Nicholsons 38 (commonly known as the Nicholson 38 or Nic 38) is a classic British motorsailer/ketch from the mid-1960s–1970s, designed in-house by Camper & Nicholsons (with modifications based on John Alden & Associates' Mistral design, including increased length and freeboard). Built primarily by Camper & Nicholson Ltd. (with hulls molded by Halmatic Ltd.), production ran from 1966 to 1975, with 134 hulls completed. This makes it a relatively uncommon but highly regarded bluewater-capable cruiser, emphasizing solid construction, seaworthiness, and comfortable motion for extended passages or coastal/motorsailing use. The design prioritizes reliability and protection over outright speed—it's a heavy, long-keeled ketch with a center cockpit (often with a protected doghouse/wheelhouse for all-weather sailing), making it ideal for cold-weather or offshore cruising. It's not a lightweight performer but excels in moderate-to-strong winds, with excellent tracking, stiffness, and a gentle ride that minimizes fatigue. Many have proven themselves on long voyages, and owners praise the "indestructible" build quality typical of C&N's era.
Construction Details
| Designer | In House Design |
|---|---|
| Builder | Camper and Nicholsons |
| Length | 37.830 ft |
| LOA | 37.830 ft |
| LWL | 27.000 ft |
| Beam | 10.500 ft |
| Displacement | 15904 lb |
| Ballast | 7000 lb |
| Max Draft | 5.170 ft |
| Year Built | 1966 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 37.33 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 13.33 ft |
| p | 33.33 ft |
| e | 13.33 ft |
| p2 | 18 ft |
| e2 | 7.66 ft |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37.33 ft | 13.33 ft | 33.33 ft | 13.33 ft | 18 ft | 7.66 ft | - | - |
Sails
Camper Nicholson 38 - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 33.33 ft - (10159 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 13.33 ft - (4063 mm) |
| Leech | * 35.28 ft - (10753 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 87.99 ° |
| Diagonal | * 35.46 ft - (10808 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | 221.87 ft² |
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Camper Nicholson 38 - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 31.71 ft - (9665 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 18.01 ft - (5489 mm) |
| Leech | * 27.03 ft - (8239 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 15.33 ft - (4673 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12 ° |
| Area | 243.09 ft² |
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Camper Nicholson 38 - GENOA
| Luff | * 37.66 ft - (11479 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 21.83 ft - (6654 mm) |
| Leech | * 35.15 ft - (10714 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 20 ft - (6096 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4 ° |
| Area | 376.57 ft² |
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Camper Nicholson 38 - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 37.66 ft - (11479 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 23.99 ft - (7312 mm) |
| Foot | * 23.99 ft - (7312 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | 767.94 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.