Nicholson 55 Masthead Cutter 1971 - Vendu

The reputation for toughness of the early GRP Nic 32 and the 35 led to their widespread popularity and success at the smaller end of the yachting spectrum. Drawing on that - and evidently some panache inherited from much earlier Nicholson creations; the Nic 55 must be the success story at the larger end. Of the twenty six 55s built only two others; LUTINE and RACER shared QUAILO’s particularly beautiful configuration. Twelve were bought by the Ministry of Defence at a key period in replacing their ageing windfall fleet for adventurous training. Time and again thereafter they considered upgrading but each time concluded their 55s were irreplaceable. Various layouts were available including aft cockpit, centre-cockpit, sloop or yawl rig - conventional or retroussé stern. These boats have been proven over and over again with "ADVENTURE" 2nd in the first Round the World Race and "QUAILO III" formerly BROADSWORD an Admirals Cup and Southern Cross team member.

QUAILO III is ready for more adventure; her cockpit is huge; she sleeps 10 and as we all know this design is so capable that she seems almost to prefer it when the going gets tough – all with unmistakable English good looks and an almost rakish charm.

- Commissioned for Don Parr as Admiral’s Cup contender
- Competed Sydney Hobart 1973
- As BRITISH SOLDIER Joined JSASTC Gosport in mid 80s and renamed BROADSWORD
- 2003 reverted to civilian ownership
- 2011 renamed QUAILO III

- Halmatic single skin GRP hull with longitudinal and transverse stiffeners and bonded bulkheads
- Marine ply deck with non slip compound
- Timber deck beams

Accommodation is for 10 in 3 main cabin areas
- From cockpit bridge deck teak hinged doors and sliding hatch in coach roof
- Companionway steps down
- Teak and holly cabin sole
- 12 x Lights in deck head
- Single quarter berths aft each side
- Chart table and nav station next fwd to stbd

Galley to port
- Stainless steel work surfaces
- Sink with H&C tap
- Stowage
- Top loading fridge new 2016
- Smev 4 burner hob and oven
- Plate rack stowage outboard

Dinette to stbd
- Large banquette with 3 drawer stowage under; seats 10
- Large drop leaf dining table
- 2 x Settee berths; one each side
- 2 x Pilot berths outboard each side; 4 in total each with reading lights

Moving fwd
- Hanging locker to port
- Head and shower with teak grating sole
- Jabsco manual WC to stbd
- Stainless steel wash basin
- Hatch access to foredeck over

Forecabin
- 2 x single berths each with reading lights
- Large sail locker fwd
- Chain locker in focsle
- Large hatchway access to fore deck

- Bermudian cutter with Procter alloy mast and boom with new Harken rod kicker
- Forestay, inner forestay, backstay, 2 x cap, 4 x lower and 2 x upper shrouds, 2 x running backstays
- Seldon 400 S Furlex furler 2012
- Inner forestay can be unrigged
- Stainless steel standing rigging new 2016
- Genoa 2015
- Main sail by Hood c 2007 but in GC - with lazy jacks 2013
- Asymmetric 2014 to short bowsprit
- Staysail age unknown
- 4 Piece cover from mast to transom 2013 doubles as boom tent when moored

From aft
- Stainless steel pushpit
- Chromed fairleads for mooring lines in taff rail
- Mooring cleats port and stbd
- Hydraulic backstay
- Large lazarette contains deflated dinghy
- Helm wheel to Whitlock Mamba steering system
- 2 x Seats for helmsman each side
- Rigel steering compass
- Deep cockpit with high coamings
- B&G analogue instruments as spec in Nav section
- Harken traveller car with Harken 44 main sheet winch and Lewmar blocks
- Seating each side fwd
- Locker to stbd under side deck stowage for 6 person life raft
- 2 x Lewmar 65 ST primary winches mounted outboard
- 2 x Harken 53.3 secondary winches mounted outboard
- Harken track and 2 cars for jib and asymmetric
- 2 x Stainless steel vents on dorade boxes
- Teak hand rails
- Large opening hatch
- 2 x Stainless steel vent on varnished teak boxes at fwd end of trunk cabin
- Harken staysail cars
- Mast with 2 spreaders
- 2 x Harken 44 and 1 x 43 halyard winches on the mast
- Lazy jacks
- Whisker pole
- Lewmar running backstay tackle
- 3 x Hatches in foredeck
- 2 x Mooring cleats
- Inner forestay fittings
- Lofrans Tigres winch and capstan
- 2 x Chromed fairleads at bow each side
- 2 x Bow rollers
- 20 Kg CQR and substantial length of chain
- Stainless steel pulpit

- Yanmar 4JH2TE sea water cooled 60 HP Diesel refurbished under cabin sole by galley
- 18 inch 3 bladed propeller, cutlass bearing
- Whitlock Mamba steering gear
- New wiring throughout
- New Main circuit panel
- 2nd hand Cummins / Onan 4 kW generator fitted under cockpit sole in 2013 refit; 96 hrs
- 85 litre calorifier 2012
- 3 kW Immersion heater 2012
- 4 x 120 Ah 12 V batteries in 2 banks
- Shorepower system
- 2 x Stainless steel fuel tanks 140 litres / 31 gallons each
- 1 x Stainless steel fresh water tank
- Black water tank
- Cooking gas bottles in aft deck locker

- Raymarine E120 Plotter 2013
- B&G original Hydra 2000 depth, wind angle and speed, boat speed instruments refurbished
- Raymarine autopilot
- Raymarine VHF radio
- Clock and barometer

- EPIRB
- 6 Person life raft new 2013
- 1 x Horseshoe buoy
- Electric bilge pump
- Manual bilge pump

Major refit from 2013 including
- Hull Awlgrip, Coppercoat antifouling
- Mast removed and inspected
- Massive cockpit, trunk cabin, windows and deck cosmetic refurbishment
- Bulkheads re lined with teak veneer
- Uprated Yanmar 4JH2TE to 60 HP
- Rebuilt TMP gearbox 2015
- Shaft stern and steering gear fully refurbished
- Fuel tanks removed inspected cleaned and refurbished
- New pulpit, pushpit and guardrails
- New standing rigging wires
- New harken furler
- New harken rod kicker
- Full interior refit, all interior woodwork refurbished / replaced
- All new wiring and new electrical panel
- New cabin heater
- New cushions throughout 2016