With a 26-foot waterline, a 10-foot-5-inch beam, and a displacement of 11,800 pounds, the Valiant 32 has a moderate displacement-to-length ratio of 283. It is a serious offshore cruiser rather than a daysailer.
Design and Construction
Perry gave the 32 the traditional Valiant profile. Its canoe stern was retained for its behavior in confused or following seas, while moderate bow flare and high bulwarks forward together keep the boat dry and comfortable. The canoe stern’s fuller, broader hips distinguish it visually from the more pointed transom of the Pacific Seacraft Crealock 34, although the two boats share the same waterline length and beam.
Below the waterline, a modified fin keel carries 4,700 pounds of external lead ballast, giving a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 40. The rudder is mounted on a skeg. The hull is solid laminate, while the deck and cabintop are balsa-cored.
Despite its moderate displacement and sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.18, the design was pitched as both an ultimate bluewater performance cruiser and an easily handled yacht for a cruising couple.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
Most Valiant 32s are cutter-rigged, dividing the roughly 524-square-foot sail plan into manageable pieces. The standing rigging is substantial for a 32-footer: the headstay, backstay, and upper shrouds are 5/16-inch 1x19, while the lower shrouds, inner forestay, and intermediate backstays are 1/4-inch 1x19.
A small number of later boats left the factory as sloops, with the mast moved forward. This change was made partly to reduce weather helm and partly to trim production costs.
As originally tuned, the boat develops weather helm above 15 knots but balances nicely after the first reef goes into the mainsail. Owners report a comfortable motion under two reefs in winds over 35 knots. The boat sails best with the rubrail—about 10 inches below the caprail—clear of the water.
Auxiliary power comes from a 4-cylinder, 25-horsepower Westerbeke L-25 diesel. It burns half a gallon per hour at hull speed, providing a powered range beyond 500 miles. Tankage is 48 gallons of fuel and 80 gallons of water.
Accommodations
Below, the custom-finished teak-and-ash interior has a handcrafted feel carried through the saloon. Opposing settees flank a drop-leaf table built around the keel-stepped mast. The port settee converts into a small double or twin, and both settees have storage behind and beneath them.
A U-shaped galley to port faces a forward-looking navigation station to starboard. Farther forward, the head is to port and a large hanging locker is to starboard. Latching the head door aft creates a private enclosure for the V-berth.
A quarterberth aft is standard. On some boats, an optional large hanging wet locker with a storage shelf replaces it.
Known Issues
The authority documents identify no structural or systemic defects specific to the Valiant 32. Their construction notes focus on the solid hull laminate and the balsa-cored deck and cabintop as built.
Refits and Ownership
Owners have tailored individual boats to suit their needs. One fitted a large pelican hook to the inner forestay for easier sail handling. The optional wet-locker arrangement is another example of how the aft quarter was reworked on individual hulls.
The relatively substantial rig and easily managed cutter sail plan make the Valiant 32 a straightforward boat for a couple to maintain and modify without a yard.
Verdict
The Valiant 32 is a compact Perry bluewater cruiser that distills the Valiant 40’s hull logic into a couple-friendly package. Its canoe stern and high forward bulwarks deliver a dry, seaworthy platform, while the cutter rig keeps sail handling within the reach of two people. The balsa-cored deck and cabintop over a solid hull are the main construction caveat and call for a careful survey.
Pros
- Fin keel and skeg-hung rudder give responsive, proven bluewater handling
- Cutter rig and substantial standing rigging are easily managed by a couple
- Dry, seaworthy behavior, with balanced handling after reefing in strong winds
- Thoughtful interior with a convertible saloon and private V-berth enclosure
Cons
- Balsa-cored deck and cabintop require a careful moisture survey
- Later sloop-rigged boats departed from the standard cutter’s balance brief
