The Valiant story began in 1973 when a young Robert Perry accepted the challenge to design a new class of cruising sailboat, one with traditional styling that could be easily sailed by a couple, yet capable of offshore performance normally associated with racing sailboats. The result was the Valiant 40, which gave birth to the era of the "Performance Cruising Yacht". What began as a simple theory over twenty years ago, is now the standard by which all other cruising sailboats are measured. In fact, the name Valiant is synonymous with the epitome of a performance yacht. No wonder awards have been bestowed time and time again, including the recent induction of the Valiant 40 into the prestigious "American Sailboat Hall of Fame".
Today, with non-stop production spanning three decades, Valiant Yachts is producing the evolutionary successors to the original design. The Valiant 42 and the Valiant 50 incorporate the same proven offshore hull form with a structural skeg mounted rudder and a state of the art keelfoil. This powerful combination insured excellent control and tracking on and off the wind. The external, bolted on lead ballast provides a shock-absorbant defense against accidental grounding, while simultaneously allowing for a low stabilizing center of gravity that optimizes performance and safety.
Since all Valiants were designed and built for the real world offshore live-aboard cruising, one of the critical factors for safety is a strong hull, one that will provide maximum strength and impact resistance. To insure each and every Valiant meets this criteria, all Valiant hulls are hand laid fiberglass in a solid matrix of alternating layers of woven roving and mat. The only resin used in 100% isopthalic, hand mixed and catalyzed in one gallon increments with a catalyst/resin mixture dyed to achieve the proper wet out technique. This same technique is used for all fiberglass components in Valiants.
Over the years, every Valiant has been built to order on a semi-custom basis, and the new Valiants are no exception. However, the Valiant in-house design team has gone one better with their new and innovative deck system that adds a totally new dimension by eliminating any predetermined locations for port lights, hatches or companionway. What this means is the customer is free to select from an almost unlimited choice of interior and exterior arrangements. Valiant's new custom-fabricated rig, with the anchor/bowsprit, provides increased sail area and excellent helm balance. All Valiant spars are through-deck stepped to insure maximum strength. These combinations give each Valiant plenty of sail power while keeping things simple enough for a couple to manage and maintain, even under strenuous conditions. A full complement of oversized, self-tailing winches make it possible for even the smallest member of the crew to trim the sails. Another important Valiant engineering feat is the attention to detail and maintenance. Each and every system and component is engineered to be easily maintained and serviced. Access to tanks, pumps and the engine is superb, and all these components are removable if necessary. Plumbing and electrical systems meet or exceed marine standards. Through hulls below the waterline are bronze/stainless ball valves with easy access for operation, and all Valiants are totally electrically bonded and grounded. The new Valiant could only have been developed by a company whose customers have the experience of cruising and racing millions of miles in every ocean of the world and in all possible weather conditions. The result is a new Valiant that offers the ultimate combination of strength, stability, performance, safety and comfort, earning Valiant Yachts the reputation as the world's most desirable cruising yacht! |
