Valiant 40 sailboat

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The Valiant 40 sailboat is an aft cockpit double-ender, or canoe stern, cutter rigged monohull of 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 FRP) 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 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 during that era are thought by most authorities to be cosmetic and not of structural consequence.

Winning 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. Many have made successful transoceanic passages and Valiant 40s are reported to turn 160 mile 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. The Valiant 40 has been redesigned to become the Valiant 42, which is still in production. Valiant Yachts has also manufactured 32 foot, 37 foot, and 50 foot models.

The Valiant 40 was elected to the Sailboat Hall of Fame and was named Cruising Sailboat of the Decade.