valiant 39 sailboat

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• By Quentin Warren
• Updated: August 5, 2002

valian39.jpg

After sailing aboard one in Annapolis, Maryland, on a sparkling morning last fall, Bill Lee labeled it a “bulletproof cruiser’s delight.” Circumnavigator Mark Schrader called it a “bombproof boat built to take someone out to sea and bring him back intact.” Strong sentiments, indeed, for a very capable sailboat. They were talking about the Valiant 39.

It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to hear someone hail a Valiant as seaworthy. Designer Robert Perry’s canoe-stern staple has become a blue-water icon of sorts for long-distance sailors, from a generation of singlehanded around-the-world racers to oceangoing cruising families with a yen for far horizons.

The 39 is essentially an updated edition of the popular Valiant 37, with a hefty tubular stainless bowsprit that increases the size of the foretriangle and opens the door for a real working staysail in the boat’s cutter configuration. By modern standards she is a straightforward vessel characterized by a subtle sheer, considerable tumblehome, deep-V sections beneath the waterline forward, a fin keel and a skeg-hung rudder. In other words she’s a reliable, conservative platform for doing decidedly unconservative things — like sailing across an ocean.

Construction details read like a primer on how to build a boat so it won’t fall apart. The hull is laid up in one piece of solid glass, hand laminated with alternate layers of mat and woven roving. Isophthalic resin is used throughout, from the gel coat right on into the laminate. Floor timbers are built up of heavy layers of mat and woven roving over PVC high-density closed-cell foam; these reinforce the underbody and extend into the sump, a sturdy element rendered with up to two inches of solid glass. The keel consists of 7,000 pounds of external lead bedded to the bottom of the sump with 3M 5200, and secured by no fewer than 11 3/4-inch stainless J bolts topped with 1/4-inch stainless backing plates and stainless nuts. The deck utilizes Baltek balsa core for stiffness and weight reduction, with structural foam in areas of major stress; it is affixed to the hull on an inturned flange with 5200 and stainless bolts on 4 1/2-inch centers. Whoa.

The rig is a keel-stepped, high-aspect masthead affair with two sets of spreaders, fore-and-aft lowers, and an inner forestay brought to the stem aft of the bowsprit for cutter work. Standing rigging port and starboard terminates at chain plates secured with stainless bolts and backing plates to hefty structural knees bonded into the hull. The 39’s SA/Disp ratio of 16.8 does not point at wicked light-air performance, but by augmenting the sail plan with the appropriate canvas you can offset that apparent disadvantage; in truth and in fairness, the versatility of the rig in moderate-to-heavy oceangoing conditions is of far more enduring significance.

In the realm of accommodations and amenity, this is a genuine passage maker, with emphasis on what’s functional, comfortable and safe at sea, not on how many showers you can fit into 37 feet of hull. To wit, there is one head, located on the port side aft, cleverly adjacent to but separate from a single shower stall. Smallish sleeping doubles are located in the starboard quarter and forepeak. A serious nav station with a chart table, electrical panel and electronics is tucked in to port, opposed on the starboard side by a very secure U-shaped galley. The saloon includes longitudinal settees, both of which with lee cloths make terrific sea berths, and a folding dinette admidship. For insulation and sound dampening, 1/2-inch foam is applied to the inside of the hull from the waterline up. Storage is addressed in lockers, cubbies, shelves and settee bins; long-range provisioning can spill into the vessel’s substantial bilge if necessary.

Mechanically, the boat is set up for uncomplicated maintenance, rugged use and long stints away from the dock. A freshwater-cooled Westerbeke 35B is located in an engine compartment behind the companionway steps; for a 37-foot hull, itÕs a veritable engine room. The Racor fuel filter, raw-water intake, engine oil dipstick, V-drive unit, starter and whatnot are all easy to get at when the needs arise. The electrical scenario includes a dual-bank 12-volt DC system and a 110-volt AC shore power hookup with a 30-amp charger and plenty of cabin outlets. The distribution panel is assembled by Valiant and provides a DC breaker with 28 individual toggles, an AC breaker with 12, the requisite voltage and amperage meters, and a reverse-polarity indicator. In terms of tankage, fuel lives in two removable marine alloy units aft of the engine, fresh water in stainless tanks beneath the settees.

Boat Of The Year sail testing put the Valiant through its paces in 10 to 12 knots of breeze amid a light chop. Perry’s very competent design tracks nicely in these conditions. The helm is responsive and the boat reacts positively to trim. Speed and acceleration are not strong suits, but maneuverability, settling into a groove and finding a satisfying angle upwind are. Above all, this boat is comfortable to sail, a comment uttered unanimously in judges’ deliberations after our sea trial.

Given the blue-water scenario for which all Valiants are conceived and built, this may be the highest compliment you could pay a boat such as the 39. The idea that you can go to sea in a vessel actually designed to take care of you is powerful. Few would doubt how well adapted both philosophically and practically this little voyager is to the big leagues offshore.

Valiant 39 Specifications:**

• LOA: 39’4″ (12.0 m.)
• LOD: 37’0″ (11.3 m.)
• LWL: 32’0″ (9.8 m.)
• Beam: 11’6″ (3.4 m.)
• Draft: 5’10” (1.8 m.)
• Ballast: 7,000 lbs. (3,175 kgs.)
• Disp: 18,500 lbs. (8,392 kgs.)
• Sail area: 735 sq.ft. (68.3 sq.m.)
• Mast above water: 54’0″ (16.5 m.)
• Ballast/Disp: .38
• Disp/Length: 252
• SA/Disp: 16.8
• Fuel: 47 gal. (178 ltr.)
• Water: 128 gal. (485 ltr.)
• Holding: 36 gal. (136 ltr.)
• Auxiliary: Westerbeke 358 35-hp FWC diesel
• Cabin headroom: 6’5″ (1.96 m.)
• Designer: Robert Perry
• Base price: $213,950 (total sailaway)

Valiant Yachts Route 1, Box 137 Gordonville, TX 76245 Phone: (903) 523-4899 Fax:(903) 523-4077

• More: 31 - 40 ft , before 2000 , Bluewater Cruising , keelboat , monohull , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats , valiant
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The Valiant 39 is a 39.33ft cutter designed by Robert Perry and built in fiberglass by Valiant Yachts (USA) between 1995 and 2004.

The Valiant 39 is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is stable / stiff and has an excellent righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a bluewater cruising boat. The fuel capacity is originally small. There is a good water supply range.

Valiant 39 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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One of only a handful of Robert Perry designed Valiant 39s built by Valiant Yachts in Texas, Blue Star is clean and well maintained. Blue Star began her life on the Great Lakes before being trucked to the Seattle in 2015. Her life spent mostly in fresh water and the mild Pacific Northwest shows in her lack of hard wear and corrosion on interior and exterior components. Two private staterooms, a large galley and head with separate shower stall provide comfortable accommodations. Systems access is excellent, her build quality strong and of course, sailing performance of the Valiant line well proven.

Only 520 hours on Beta diesel engine (new in 2018) – Max Prop feathering propeller – Espar forced air diesel heat – B&G chartplotter and sailing instruments – Victron lithium house battery and system monitors – 316 watts of solar on arch and hard dodger – Monitor windvane

Blue Star’s interior is beautifully finished in cherry veneers with solid wood trim. White laminate headliner and cabinsides give the interior a bright feeling, enhanced by numerous stainless steel ports and overhead hatches. The floorboards are one inch thick with teak and holly and have mechanisms to be secured.

Four steps lead from the cockpit to the cabin. The entrance to the aft cabin is to starboard. There is a solid door and it’s obvious the quarterberth will be a excellent sea berth. There is a place to sit while dressing and a hanging locker. Two drawers are located below the berth.

To port is the head with separate shower stall. The head faces forward and is usable on either tack. That may seem like a simple thing, but it shows the attention to building a passage-making boat rather than just a vacation home.

The engine room may be accessed via a door at the aft end of the head, or by removing panels beneath the companionway stairs.

Forward to port is the navigation station. Her communications equipment, radar and electrical distribution/monitoring systems are here. There is room to put a chart or a laptop and a comfortable place to work.

To starboard is a very generous galley. The counter is U shaped with the gimballed three burner propane stove outboard. It will be safe here to work while underway. Deep double stainless sinks, a large top loading refrigerator and freezer and ample storage space make this a well conceived galley for a long distance cruising boat.

Forward on each side are settees with cabinets outboard. Both of the settees make excellent sea berths and have lee cloths. The table on centerline is solid and has leaves that fold up to provide seating for visitors or a larger crew.

Forward of the main bulkhead is the V berth with cabinets port and starboard. There is a wonderful compass on the overhead so you can see from the berth if you are still on course. The hull is lined with cedar to create a warm and cozy cabin.

Espar forced air diesel heater with multiple outlets

Dickinson Mediterranean 3 burner propane stove/oven (2018)

(2) 20 lb propane tanks

Xintex S2A propane solenoid control panel

Adler/Barbour Super ColdMachine 12v refrigeration with water cooled option

Raritan PHII head (head hoses replaced 2019)

30 gallon holding tank

HyperVent mattress pad in V berth

2 inch latex topper for V berth

Alpenglow interior lights

Electronics and Navigation

B&G Zeus2 9 inch chartplotter with wifi (2016)

B&G sailing instruments (2016)

B&G wind instrument at masthead (2017)

Vesper Marine XB-8000 AIS transceiver (2016)

Furuno 1721 radar on mast with display at nav station

Alpha 3000 autopilot (hardware upgrade to version 10 in 2017)

Monitor self steering windvane

Icom IC-M422 VHF radio w/DSC with remote microphone (2006)

Icom 706 Mrk IIG HAM radio w/AH-4 antenna tuner

SCS PTC-IIe Pactor modem

Insulated backstay antenna for HF radio

Icom ICM25 handheld VHF

Weems & Plath thermometer, clock and barometer

Electrical Systems

12v DC and 120v AC electrical systems

Valiant Yachts AC/DC distribution panel with AC voltmeter and DC voltmeter and ammeter

(1) Lifeline Group 31 AGM starting battery (2022)

(1) Lifeline Group 31 AGM (105 Ah, 2022) house battery charged by (1) Victron 200 amp hour lithium battery (2022) via Victron Orion 12-30 DC to DC charger

Balmar 120 amp alternator (2018) with Balmar MC-614 regulator (2016)

(1) Renogy 160 watt solar panel (2019) on custom arch and   (2) Solbian 78 watt solar panels (2022) on dodger

(2) Victron Energy 75/15 solar controllers with individual MPPT Control Displays

Victron BMV-700 battery monitor and Victron Smartshunt

Pronautic 1260P 60 amp charger (2016)

GoPower 300 watt inverter at nav station (2016)

12v outlet at nav station, 120v outlets throughout

Mechanical Systems

Beta Marine 38 hp diesel (new 2018, 520 hours)

HBW150V-3.0 V drive transmission

Max-Prop 17 inch three blade feathering prop (reconditioned 2018)

Spare fixed 2 blade propeller

PYI dripless shaft seal (2018)

Racor 500 fuel filter

55 gallon fuel tank

Deck and Hull

Blue Star’s  hull is built in hand laid fiberglass using alternating layers of mat and roving bonded with isophthalic resin. Structural members use PVC foam coring rather than the more common plywood to ensure almost unlimited structural integrity even into the bilge areas which are two inches of solid fiberglass. The 7000 pound ballast keel is then bonded externally using eleven 3/4 inch stainless bolts. The rudder is protected and secured by a massive skeg. The deck uses balsa coring for weight savings except in areas of stress where structural foam is substituted. The hull and deck joint is secured by through bolting on 4.5 inch centers through an in-turned flange.

The cockpit of  Blue Star  is very well protected by her hard dodger. The rail surrounding the cockpit is one inch stainless rather than the more common wire. The companionway hatch is inset to allow a large area at the bridgedeck where you can straddle the interior and the cockpit. The autopilot control is on the port side of the entryway and this is the ideal place to be on watch during any weather. There are handholds for moving in and out of the interior.

Lighthouse 1501 electric windlass

Spade S100 44 lb anchor with 275’ 5/16 inch HT chain

Fortress FX-23 with 250 feet chain/rope rode

Roller and cleat for a stern anchor

Stainless tubing boarding ladder

Sails and Rigging

Two spreader aluminum mast and aluminum boom, painted white

Navtec rod rigging

Hydraulic backstay adjuster

Removable inner forestay

(2) Lewmar 54ST primary winches

Lewmar 40ST mainsheet winch

(2) Lewmar 40ST winches on mast

(2) Lewmar 40ST cabin top winches

Schaefer roller furler

North Sails Dacron mainsail (2015)

North Sails Dacron furling yankee headsail (2015)

North Sails Dacron hank on staysail (2015)

North Sails gennaker (1997)

Spare mainsail and staysail (1997)

Rig dimensions: I: 49.00 ft J: 16.67 ft P: 45.00 ft E: 14.50 ft Working Sail Area: 735.00 sq ft

Miscellaneous and Safety

Achilles LSI-290E 9’6” hypalon inflatable dinghy (2016)

ACR 406 EPIRB (battery expired)

Zodiac liferaft in canister (certification expired)

Cruising World Review (August 5, 2002)

It shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to hear someone hail a Valiant as seaworthy. Designer Robert Perry’s canoe-stern staple has become a blue-water icon of sorts for long-distance sailors, from a generation of singlehanded around-the-world racers to oceangoing cruising families with a yen for far horizons.

The 39 is essentially an updated edition of the popular Valiant 37, with a hefty tubular stainless bowsprit that increases the size of the foretriangle and opens the door for a real working staysail in the boat’s cutter configuration. By modern standards she is a straightforward vessel characterized by a subtle sheer, considerable tumblehome, deep-V sections beneath the waterline forward, a fin keel and a skeg-hung rudder. In other words she’s a reliable, conservative platform for doing decidedly unconservative things — like sailing across an ocean.

Construction details read like a primer on how to build a boat so it won’t fall apart. The hull is laid up in one piece of solid glass, hand laminated with alternate layers of mat and woven roving. Isophthalic resin is used throughout, from the gel coat right on into the laminate. Floor timbers are built up of heavy layers of mat and woven roving over PVC high-density closed-cell foam; these reinforce the underbody and extend into the sump, a sturdy element rendered with up to two inches of solid glass. The keel consists of 7,000 pounds of external lead bedded to the bottom of the sump with 3M 5200, and secured by no fewer than 11 3/4-inch stainless J bolts topped with 1/4-inch stainless backing plates and stainless nuts. The deck utilizes Baltek balsa core for stiffness and weight reduction, with structural foam in areas of major stress; it is affixed to the hull on an inturned flange with 5200 and stainless bolts on 4 1/2-inch centers. Whoa.

The rig is a keel-stepped, high-aspect masthead affair with two sets of spreaders, fore-and-aft lowers, and an inner forestay brought to the stem aft of the bowsprit for cutter work. Standing rigging port and starboard terminates at chain plates secured with stainless bolts and backing plates to hefty structural knees bonded into the hull. The 39’s SA/Disp ratio of 16.8 does not point at wicked light-air performance, but by augmenting the sail plan with the appropriate canvas you can offset that apparent disadvantage; in truth and in fairness, the versatility of the rig in moderate-to-heavy oceangoing conditions is of far more enduring significance.

In the realm of accommodations and amenity, this is a genuine passage maker, with emphasis on what’s functional, comfortable and safe at sea, not on how many showers you can fit into 37 feet of hull. To wit, there is one head, located on the port side aft, cleverly adjacent to but separate from a single shower stall. Smallish sleeping doubles are located in the starboard quarter and forepeak. A serious nav station with a chart table, electrical panel and electronics is tucked in to port, opposed on the starboard side by a very secure U-shaped galley. The saloon includes longitudinal settees, both of which with lee cloths make terrific sea berths, and a folding dinette admidship. For insulation and sound dampening, 1/2-inch foam is applied to the inside of the hull from the waterline up. Storage is addressed in lockers, cubbies, shelves and settee bins; long-range provisioning can spill into the vessel’s substantial bilge if necessary.

Mechanically, the boat is set up for uncomplicated maintenance, rugged use and long stints away from the dock. A freshwater-cooled Westerbeke 35B is located in an engine compartment behind the companionway steps; for a 37-foot hull, itÕs a veritable engine room. The Racor fuel filter, raw-water intake, engine oil dipstick, V-drive unit, starter and whatnot are all easy to get at when the needs arise. The electrical scenario includes a dual-bank 12-volt DC system and a 110-volt AC shore power hookup with a 30-amp charger and plenty of cabin outlets. The distribution panel is assembled by Valiant and provides a DC breaker with 28 individual toggles, an AC breaker with 12, the requisite voltage and amperage meters, and a reverse-polarity indicator. In terms of tankage, fuel lives in two removable marine alloy units aft of the engine, fresh water in stainless tanks beneath the settees.

Boat Of The Year sail testing put the Valiant through its paces in 10 to 12 knots of breeze amid a light chop. Perry’s very competent design tracks nicely in these conditions. The helm is responsive and the boat reacts positively to trim. Speed and acceleration are not strong suits, but maneuverability, settling into a groove and finding a satisfying angle upwind are. Above all, this boat is comfortable to sail, a comment uttered unanimously in judges’ deliberations after our sea trial.

Given the blue-water scenario for which all Valiants are conceived and built, this may be the highest compliment you could pay a boat such as the 39. The idea that you can go to sea in a vessel actually designed to take care of you is powerful. Few would doubt how well adapted both philosophically and practically this little voyager is to the big leagues offshore.

By Quentin Warren

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The Best Sailboats for the High Seas?

At the St. Petersburg Boat Show month last month, I had the pleasure of seeing delivery skipper and author John Kretschmers presentation on what he called sailboats for a serious ocean. I have reservations about any ideal boat list, but Kretschmer, who reviews boats for Sail Magazine and whose most recent book Sailing a Serious Ocean is available in our online bookstore , has the ideal background for this sort of work, and a list like this is undeniably helpful for wannabe cruisers who need a place to start their search.

I certainly wouldnt limit my search to boats on such a list, but by paying careful attention to the pros and cons of each, you can find something that suits your own aspirations.

Here are the boats Kretschmer suggests: Contessa 32, Pacific Seacraft 34, Pretorien 35, Cape Dory/Robinhood 36, Valiant/Esprit 37, Prout Snowgoose 37, Alajuela 38, Privelege 39, Freya 39, Passport 40, Caliber 40, Baba 40, Hallberg Rassy 42, Taswell 43, Hylas 44, Norseman 447, Beneteau 456, Outbound 44, Hylas 46, Kaufman 47, Tayana 48, Hylas 49, Amel Maramu 53, and the Sundeer 60/64. For a brief capsule summary of each, be sure to check out his website.

The list is hardly definitive. There are plenty of good boats that arent featured, and some of these would be ill-matched for the wrong sailor-Kretschmer clearly pointed this out during his talk. I like how the list presents a good cross-section of the various shapes and sizes for a boat in this category. For example, Kretschmer includes the Prout Snowgoose and Steve Dashews Sundeer 60, boats that, notwithstanding their successful record at sea, fill an outlying niche.

If I were going to expand the list, one of the heavier-displacement microcruisers like those I blogged about would be a nice addition. Although I would be wary of promoting even the most formidable of this breed as well-suited for a serious ocean, John Neale of Mahina Tiare Expeditions includes one of them, the Dana 24, on his own list of recommend cruising boats . Neales much broader list of boats is accompanied by a very helpful discussion of design elements to consider.

What got me thinking about formidable cruising boats was our series of reports o n sailboat construction , focusing specifically on structural details. Although there are plenty of excellent coastal cruisers on the market, once you start talking about offshore duty, scan’tlings (the dimensions for structural components) take on far more importance.

A few years ago we touched on this subject in our Mailport section, encouraging readers to suggest their own nominees for a list of what we called at the time, tough boats, vessels that were built to take a beating, requiring minimal care and upkeep.

Here are some of the boats that were suggested from our readers: Mariner 36, Cal 34, Morgan 43, Swan 43, Bermuda 40, Island Packet 26, Mariner 47, LeComte Northeast 38, Westsail 32, Dana 24, J/35, and the CSY 44.

Id be interested in hearing of other nominees for this list, or other good resources for sailors looking for a short list of good offshore boats.

For those who are frustrated to find that their own ideal boat isn’t on anybodys list, I wouldnt be too miffed. The best line Ive heard in a while on this topic came from Steve Callahan, the author of the survival classic Adrift , who gave a presentation at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Show . When I asked Steve, who has sailed extensively on both multihulls and monohulls, what type of boat he preferred, he said, quite seriously. Well, at the end of the day, the best cruising boat is the one that you are on.

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Interesting list. I am fond of Hylas of which you chose three models. However, I am suspect of their yard and construction techniques and do not have confidence that they are as strong as they are beautiful. Only one Hallberg-Rassy was selected, which is a far more robust and dry sailing boat than the Hylas. Passports make a good boat as does Cape Dory and several others on your list. Didn’t four sailors die on a Beneteau in 2018? Over all it is a decent list.

https://metro.co.uk/2018/04/25/last-pictures-doomed-yacht-cheeki-rafiki-sank-killing-four-british-sailors-7497805/

I believe this is the accident you’re talking about in which a Beneteau and it’s bolted on keel parted company.

Almost all of the sailing clubs in San Diego rent Beneteaus out. They are a decent coastal sailboat. I have a couple friends who have even made the crossing to Maui in them..not me, not ever. I consider them a living room boat. Having said that, I am certainly no expert so its just my opinion. If I am crossing an ocean I want a capable kindly strong boat with redundancy built into critical systems.

Curious to think what people think about the early 70s Swan 43 as a cruising boat for a couple with occasional guests for a round the world trip? I have an S&S 30 which is too small but I do have some bias towards their designs. Add a watermaker and some power generation and off you go… Any thoughts?

Are Motor Sailors like the Nauticats or Fishers ocean worthy ( if their pilot house windows and sliding doors are lifeboatified ? )

Walt Schulz’s Shannon 43 is a beautiful, sea kindly, comfortable and sturdy bluewater boat. Walt had not only the ICW and Bahamas in mind when he designed and built 52 of them. He designed for ocean cruising. He believes his boats should outlive him and still sailing for generations. We sailed the Chesapeake, Bahamas, Caribbean and Pacific to Australia on a Shannon 43 ketch. She took great care of us and is still turning heads.

Great article! John Kretchmer is one of my fave modern day sailors. While there is only one Crealock design on John’s list, and the Dana is added on John Neale’s list, I was surprised not to see a Crealock/ Pacific Seacraft 37 mentioned. But there are so many great serious off shore boats, it’s hard to narrow it down to 10. Here’s a few to think about. Cape George Cutter 36. Biscay 36, tradewind 35, Rustler 36, Nicholson 31 (never talked about) and 32. Seldom seen on top 10 lists, but great boats. Thanks for the article.

Great comment and interesting to note that the first four of your additions are those currently entered in the 2022 Golden Globe Race – kind of the definition of a blue water boat.

Hey! I know this is somewhat off-topic however I needed to ask. Does operating a well-established blog like yours take a massive amount work? I am completely new to writing a blog but I do write in my journal everyday. I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my experience and feelings online. Please let me know if you have any kind of recommendations or tips for new aspiring blog owners. Thankyou!|

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Valiant Esprit 37

Valiant Esprit 37 is a 37 ′ 0 ″ / 11.3 m monohull sailboat designed by Robert Perry and built by Uniflite Inc., Nordic Yachts, and Valiant Yachts starting in 1977.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

From BlueWaterBoats.org :

The Valiant Esprit 37 is a boat of many names, literally. When first introduced as the “Esprit 37” by Valiant Yachts in 1977 she was built by a company called Nordic so some called her the Nordic Esprit 37. Later when Valiant changed hands to Uniflite, she was rechristened the “Valiant 37”, and over time and another change of Valiant ownership, the boat evolved into the Valiant 39 with the addition of a bowsprit that gave it two extra feet of length. Names aside, the boat draws much from its larger stablemate, the now almost legendary Valiant 40 , and certainly owners of Valiant Esprit 37s have reported brisk and nimble go-anywhere performance, a seakindly ride, and an interior that is well thought out.

In 1976, three years on from the incredibly successful launch of the Valiant 40, Valiant Yachts was on the lookout for two smaller yachts to diversify their offerings. The Valiant Esprit 37 was to be one of these boats. The company once again used the genius of Bob Perry, who drew on the same magic Valiant 40 formula and applied it to a 37ft hull; this time sporting a sleeker cabin trunk and a brighter interior.

To build the boat, Valiant opted not to go with Uniflite who at the time were producing the Valiant 40, instead Valiant chose a new company with strong ties to Uniflite; a company called Nordic Yachts. It was headed up by Steve Nordvelt who had worked in the contracts department of Uniflite and also happened to be the son of of the original founder of Uniflite.

The boat was introduced in 1977 and sold by Valiant Yachts in that time as the “Esprit 37”, however you can sometimes boats improperly marked as “Nordic Esprit” 37s in used boat listings.

Around 1980, Uniflite acquired Valiant and production of the Esprit 37 was moved to the Uniflite factory and the boat was re-dubbed the “Valiant 37”. The Valiant 37s built during the Uniflite era were hampered by the same non-osmotic blistering issues that plagued the Valiant 40s; blistering above and below the waterline, usually cosmetic in nature. The blistering was caused by the use of a fire retardant resin called Hetron interacting with the glass fiber layup.

It wasn’t until some time around 1982-84 that this problem was permanently solved by the use of isophthalic resin. By this time, Valiant was again under new ownership and production shifted from Seattle, Washington to Texas. The Valiant 37 eventually evolved into the Valiant 39, with new a deck molding; the sleek cabin trunk giving way to a boxy one better matching the Valiant 40/42 as well as a revised interior layout. Perhaps more prominently, the 39 had its rig was redesigned to include a 2ft bowsprit which gives the boat 2ft of additional LOA.

In total 50 Valiant 37s were built, as of 2000 the registrar at valiant-owners.org list five Valiant 39s.

Boat Configuration and Layout

The Valiant Esprit 37 shares similar lines with its larger Valiant 40 stablemate, the same graceful sheer and canoe stern with perhaps a more aggressive tumblehome. The overhangs are relatively small making for a decent speed endowing LWL. Below the waterline is a cruising fin keel and skeg-hung rudder. The underside of the hull is a little flatter than the Valiant 40 which contributes to the 37 being more nimble through the tacks.

On deck the cabin trunk departs from the old boxy look of the Valiant 40 in favor of a sleek raked cabin profile. The mast is relatively tall and sports a cutter rig with a high aspect mainsail on a small boom, a design heavily influenced by IOR ocean racers of the time. The shrouds come quite far aft which unfortunately inhibits the boom from swinging wide to catch downwind air effectively. All control lines are routed back to the safety and comfort of the cockpit.

Below deck, the best words that describe the layout are well thought out and functional. There is more than adequate stowage areas for extended cruising. Descending from the companionway, there is a very functional U-shaped galley to port and to starboard is a seagoing quarter berth with comfortably sized navigation station. Further forward to port is a L-shaped settee which can convert to a double berth, opposite is a single berth settee. The cabin table is large enough to seat 6 spaciously and stows away against a bulkhead which opens up the area nicely, however the keel stepped mast does intrude slightly into this area.

Between the main saloon and the V-berth is the head compartment to port, it has a separate shower stall running pressurized hot and cold water. Even here there are clever stowage areas including extra space below the shower seat under a waterproof access cover. The V-berth forms the master cabin and is relatively spacious with lots of drawers and a generously sized hanging locker.

Access to the engine under the companionway stairs is very good.  The 37 comes standard with a 30hp Westerbeke diesel, while the newer 39 has a 35hp. Owner Steve Long notes the  30hp Weterbekes are only “30hp @3000RPM” in the first hour after which they are supposed to be run at a maximum of 2500 RPM delivering 25hp. Many owners have repowered with Beta 37.5 hp engines which provide a more useful amount of power.

Construction

Like all the Valiant boats, the 37 is solidly built. The hull is uses the same  hand layup as the Valiant 40 with 1.5 ounce fiberglass matt between layers of 24 ounce weave. Above the waterline lining the interior of the hull, is a half-inch layer of closed cell foam which provides acoustic and thermal insulation; this thermal barrier has the advantage of reducing condensation build up on the inside of the hull.

The deck is fiberglass with balsa coring and is solidly attached to the hull with a through-bolt join. All through-deck fittings bolted onto aluminium backing plates.

Owners report that the Nordic built boats vary slightly between boat to boat, such as the location of the bulkhead in the V-berth.

Early boats used stainless wire rigging while later boats had the option for high performance rod rigging.

Like its larger Valiant 40 stablemate, the 37 is remarkably fast for a boat of its relative size.  They are nicely balanced boats, quick through the tack and generally very nimble. The boat’s cockpit is remarkably dry and the boat is easy to single hand.

To weather the Valiant Esprit 37 is unusually close-winded, aided by its high aspect rig with a mainsail that produces a lot of lift. Downwind some owners report the boat being a little slow because the mainsail does not swing very wide due to the location of the shrouds. Others flying spinnakers report fantastic performance.

In addition to strong upwind performance another area of strength is in light airs. Perry himself has noted the 37 can be quicker than a Valiant 40 in light weather. One owner reported 115 mile days over a 22 day passage in mainly light 12 knot trade winds, their boat came in 7 days quicker than another 42ft medium displacement cruiser.

As conditions become heavy the hallmarks of Valiants come into play, the boat continues to maintain its composure delivering a comfortable motion for its crew.

Buyers Notes

• The Uniflite built “Valiant 37” suffers from the same non-osmotic blister problems as the Valiant 40. It is believed the hulls affected are Uniflite boats of around 1980-82. Later boats, most likely, 1982-84 onwards, switched to isophthalic resin which are immune from non-osmotic blistering. Early boats built by Nordic are also unaffected.
• Earlier boats had weak chainplates, check for leaks and signs of delamination around these areas.
• The aluminum fuel tanks have not aged well and should be checked for signs of leaking. Some boats also have aluminum water tanks, check these closely as well.
• Some boats have rod rigging, in which case it may pay to call in a rigger to inspect for stress cracks.
• Check the engine installation; some boats have substituted larger more useful engines, however on some installations the companionway has been moved forward resulting less cabin space.

As of 2010, at the time of writing, there a not many Valiant Esprit 37 / Valiant 39s on offer. Asking price for 37s range from $80k-$170k depending on year and condition and there is a 1997 Valiant 39 asking $189k.

Links, References and Further Reading

» Valiant Yachts official site, Valiant 37 information » Valiant Owners Association » Cruising World Magazine, Valiant 39 review . » Yahoo Groups, Valiant Sailboat Owners Group

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