The Nicholson 476 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

There were centre and aft cockpit, traditional and reverse counter versions of the Nicholson 476. The molds were eventually sold to Colvic Craft where it became the Bluewater 476.

he Nicholson 476 has a spacious and comfortable interior with a centre cockpit layout. The aft cabin has a large double berth, a vanity unit, a hanging locker and an en-suite head with shower. The forward cabin has a V-berth, a hanging locker and a head with shower. The main saloon has a U-shaped settee and a large table to starboard, and a straight settee and a navigation station to port. The galley is located aft of the saloon on the starboard side and has a three-burner stove, an oven, a refrigerator, a freezer, a double sink and ample storage. The engine room is accessible from the galley and has good ventilation and sound insulation.

The Nicholson 476 was built on a semi-custom basis so details may vary depending on the owner's preferences. However, some possible alternative layouts include having two aft cabins instead of one, having a pilot berth or a quarter berth in the saloon, having a walk-through galley or a U-shaped galley, or having a different arrangement of the heads.

The Nicholson 476 is a solid and seaworthy sailboat that can handle rough seas and strong winds. It has good stability and balance, and can sail close to the wind. It is not very fast or agile, but it is comfortable and reliable. It has good visibility from the cockpit and easy access to the controls. It has a large fuel tank of 265 l (70 gal) and a Perkins 4-236 diesel engine of 85 HP that can provide adequate power when needed.

The average cost of a secondhand Nicholson 476 may vary depending on the condition, equipment, location and year of the boat. However, based on some online listings, it may range from £80,000 to £120,000 (approximately $105,000 to $158,000).

Camper & Nicholson Ltd, the builder of the Nicholson 476, is still in business but it no longer produces sailboats. It is now focused on yacht brokerage, charter, management and refit services.

David Pedrick, the designer of the Nicholson 476, has created many other sailboats for various clients and purposes. Some of his notable designs include America's Cup yachts such as 'Stars & Stripes' ('87) and 'Young America' ('96), cruising yachts such as Hinckley Sou'wester 42 and Morris Ocean Series 48 GT, racing yachts such as Baltic DP42 and Santa Cruz 70, and classic yachts such as 'Endeavour II' J Class Replica and 'Shamrock V' J Class Restoration.

The Nicholson 476 can be compared to other similar sailboats in terms of size, performance, comfort and quality. Some possible competitors are:

• Oyster 46: A slightly smaller and lighter sailboat with a similar layout and rig, but with a higher sail area/displacement ratio and a lower displacement/length ratio, indicating better performance. It also has a higher comfort ratio and a lower capsize screening formula, indicating more comfort and safety. However, it may be more expensive than the Nicholson 476;

• Moody 47: A similar sized and weighted sailboat with a similar layout and rig, but with a lower sail area/displacement ratio and a higher displacement/length ratio, indicating lower performance. It also has a lower comfort ratio and a higher capsize screening formula, indicating less comfort and safety. However, it may be cheaper than the Nicholson 476;

• Hallberg-Rassy 46: A slightly larger and heavier sailboat with a similar layout and rig, but with a higher sail area/displacement ratio and a lower displacement/length ratio, indicating better performance. It also has a higher comfort ratio and a lower capsize screening formula, indicating more comfort and safety. However, it may be much more expensive than the Nicholson 476.