[3] The first in the Nonsuch line of boat designs, the concept of a cruising catboat was proposed by Toronto businessman and sailor Gordon Fisher.

Ellis designed the boats and they were built by Hinterhoeller Yachts in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, between 1978 and 1989, with 1080 examples completed.

It has a cat rig, an unstayed mast with a wishbone boom, a plumb stem, a vertical transom, an internally-mounted spade-type rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed fin keel.

[6] In a review Michael McGoldrick wrote, "although the Nonsuch's single large sail means that its windward ability will not equal that of a sloop with headsail, its modern underwater profile allows it to point higher than many people would expect.

The fin keel and spade rudder found on the Nonsuches also does away with the windward helm which is characteristic of the Cape Cod catboats.