Valiant 40 (200-235) Buyer's Guide
Shopping for a Valiant 40 on the brokerage market means weighing a Robert Perry cutter of 39 feet 11 inches that was built in meaningful numbers and has a clear offshore pedigree. The boat's unchanged interior and recognizable canoe stern make it easy to identify, but the production history hides one material caveat that any survey should address.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Valiant 40 carries the same belowdecks plan it left the factory with: an aft stateroom, a U-shaped galley with strong storage, a main saloon with a bulkhead or fold-down table, outboard pilot berths, a V-berth forward, and a head with a separate shower. Cabin headroom clears six feet. The cockpit is secure and comfortable, and the cutter rig with mid-boom traveler defines the later standard layout, though a few early boats retain longer booms with end-boom sheeting.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Well-found examples on the used market commonly carry self-sufficient voyaging gear. A watermaker and generous solar and wind generation are typical, letting a buyer stay off the grid for long stretches. Common sail inventory includes a spinnaker or asymmetric spinnaker for offwind passages. On the systems side, an autopilot, EPIRB, and life raft are commonly fitted, marking these boats as prepared for extended cruising rather than day sailing.
What to Inspect
The one documented defect cluster centers on hulls built between 1976 and 1981, where a fire-retardant additive in the resin between hull numbers 120 and 249 shows a high correlation with blistering anchor. Most but not all boats in that window developed blisters. Any survey of a hull in that range should include close hull inspection and moisture reading. Separately, early boats with end-boom sheeting present a gybe hazard for an unwary helmsperson anchor; confirm which rig configuration the boat carries.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Valiant 40s are typically found in the United States. For a buyer, the practical checklist is brief: confirm hull number against the 120–249 blister window and survey accordingly; verify rig type and beware early end-boom sheeting; expect a stable cutter with a proven layout and common voyaging equipment already aboard.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Valiant 40 (200-235). The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25 | 2 | $69,250 | — |
| May 25 | 2 | $119,900 | +73.1% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
5 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Packet 40 | 40' | $ 159,000 | 52 | 19 |
| Passport 40 | 39.42' | $ 99,000 | 27 | 4 |
| Caliber 40 | 40.92' | $ 169,000 | 26 | 8 |
| Valiant 40 (101-199) | 39.92' | $ 69,900 | 24 | 6 |
| Tartan 40 | 40.25' | $ 89,900 | 13 | 3 |