Section H is approximately 110' in overall length, with 33' of surviving deadwood, keel, and keelson in the stern. The section is heeled over to the port side, with the hollow of the stern forming what divers have called an "A-frame" on the site (the space under the transom and the stern deadwood). Maststeps and pumpshafts are found on the surviving section of keelsons. The location of maststeps suggests that the ship was three-masted.

Iron knee on Section H	Keyed scarph on Section H

Through a comparison of scantlings and construction techniques, Section C , the inverted bilge of a centerboard vessel, has been identified as being from the same vessel as Section H, the A.P. Nichols . Being inverted, this 106' Section allows divers to observe the keel that runs flush with the exterior planking. This is one of the features often seen in Great Lakes schooners to reduce the draft of the vessel as much as possible, allowing the vessel to navigate shallow spots. Ocean vessels could be built with deep hulls and wide beams to compensate for the greater length, but Great Lakes vessels were limited in this regard by shallow spots and locks.

An iron knee survives on Section H near the juncture with Section C . The knee is evidence of composite materials being used in Great Lakes sailing vessels as early as 1869. The knee is fastened over the deck clamps that are joined with square-keyed scarphs , evidence of a somewhat elaborate reinforcement technique said to be 25 percent stronger than a plain scarph joint. The iron knees and keyed scarphs are two refinements in latter nineteenth century vessel reinforcement that made the Nichols a particularly well-built vessel.

Two surviving chainplate stations are found along the bulwarks. The plates are on the underside of the bulwark and are barely visible.

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