Motor Boat & Yachting – August 2019

Nelson can date its roots right back
to 1864 when Sir John Thornycroft
built his fi rst steam launch on the
River Thames. Two years later his
father bought riverside ground
and John I Thornycroft and
Company was born. He made a
name for himself in fast launches
and built the fi rst torpedo boat
for the Royal Navy. By the time the
yard moved to Southampton in
1904 it was known worldwide for
its fast naval craft. It was his
grandson, Peter Thornycroft, who
started Keith, Nelson & Company
Ltd in the 1950s and TT Boat
designs in the 1960s. The fi rst
Nelson as we know it was a
wooden 29-footer built for

Leopold de Rothschild in 1959 so

that he could commute between

his home on the Beaulieu river

and the Royal Yacht Squadron at

Cowes. The legend was born.

INTERIOR

It’s interesting that all of these

British thoroughbreds have aft

cabin confi gurations. In this case

an ensuite cabin with two single

berths. Ahead of the wheelhouse,

steps drop down to a dinette

(convertible to a double berth)

opposite the galley and heads, and

vee berths in the fore cabin, which

also convert to a double.

EXTERIOR

A boat that you are on, rather than

in, when outside and a very easy

one to move around. The fl at deck

over the aft cabin features an

external helm position, steps either

side drop down to low wide side

decks that make mooring a cinch.

PERFORMANCE

Re-engined in 2016 with a pair of

Beta 220hp turbo diesels, she’ll

push on to 20 knots or more, with a

fast cruise speed in the high teens.

SEAKEEPING

Seakeeping is what it’s all about for

this boat, with a semi displacement

heavy weather hull moulded by

Halmatic. It’s a tried and tested

formula beloved of pilots,

coastguards and anyone else

who needs to go to sea and

cover ground fast, irrespective of

conditions. A deep keel provides

peerless directional stability as well

as protecting the sterngear should

the boat touch bottom.

LOA 41ft 0in (12.5m) Beam 12ft 0in (3.7m) Draught 3ft 3in (1.0m)

Displacement 11 tonnes Fuel capacity 1,363 litres

Engines Twin Beta 220hp diesel

FOR SALE James Dickens Marine; http://www.jamesdickensmarine.com

NELSON 42

FIND ME A SECONDHAND...

BUILT 1979 PRICE £105,000

A hull designed to cope

with all conditions makes an

enclosed wheelhouse essential

The vee berths in the forward

guest cabin convert to

a double when needed