Valiant 40 sailboat

The Valiant 40 sailboat is an aft cockpit double-ender, or canoe stern, cutter rigged monohull designed by naval architect Robert Perry in 1973(?) near Seattle, Washington, USA. The Valiant 40 design was considered revolutionary at the time it was first constructed because it was a "light displacement cruising boat" which was the first open-ocean going cruising monohull to have a modified keel designed to reduce weight and wetted surface while increasing speed and ease of propulsion of the hull shape by the wind. At least three Valiant 40s were built with centerboards.

At some point during its production run at the original Valiant factory, probably from 1977 to 1981, a new type of resin was used in the fiberglas or glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) layup. The new resin was designed to be fire retardant, and was originally developed to the specifications of the US military late in the Viet Nam conflict. It is widely suspected, but never scientically proven, that the new resin-type caused the Valiant boats manufactured with it to suffer non-osmotic blisters of the hulls, deck, and cabinhouse structures. Considerable blister flaws developed in these boats, thought by most authorities to be cosmetic and not of structural consequence.

Many of the "blister boats" were "repaired" by stripping the outer layers of fiberglas off the exterior of the hull (either undersides and topsides, or just undersides below the water line). The repair then involved drying out the stripped hull for several months (commonly in the California or Mexico desert), followed by reglassing the exterior with several layers of fiberglas with vinylester resin or polyester resin.

The success of several Valiant 40s competing in long ocean races during the early 1980s brought this boat to the notice of the world sailing community. Of special importance was a solo "wrong way" race completed in the Southern Ocean on a Westabout course, sailing into the prevailing winds, using a factory-stock V-40. Many cruising couples have made successful transoceanic voyages and Valiant 40s are reported to turn 160-mile (256 km) days regularly on a passage.

After litigation and other business difficulties forced the end of production of the Valiant 40 in Washington, a broker who had sold Valiants bought the molds for the boat and continued production in Texas near the shore of Lake Texoma. The Valiant 40 has been slightly redesigned to become the Valiant 42, which is still in production after 35 years. Valiant Yachts has also manufactured 32 foot, 37 foot, 39 foot, 47 foot, and 50 foot models.

The Valiant 40 was elected to the Sailboat Hall of Fame and was named Cruising Sailboat of the Decade. Used Valiant 40s have a good resale market in North America and other continents.