Design and Construction
The 42 inherits the 40's essential hull logic — a fine entry, relatively long waterline, and full sections aft — while shedding any pretension to double-ender orthodoxy: there is nothing Colin Archerish about the detached, separated keel and rudder, which minimize wetted surface. The keel itself is in its third iteration, shaped with input from keel specialist Dave Vacanti into a foil with a larger leading edge and smaller trailing edge for improved lift and efficiency. An additional 1,800 pounds of ballast further enhanced stability over the predecessor, and the deck was rebuilt without any hatch bosses, a clean break from wood-trimmed earlier decks. Only minimal teak remains on deck — a pair of optional bowsprit planks, an eyebrow near the traveler, companionway trim, and swim-ladder steps — a deliberate reduction of maintenance surfaces.
Rig and Handling
The rig evolved from a single-spreader configuration to a taller, double-spreader spar that boosted light-air performance with 77 square feet of additional sail area, and a beefy stainless-steel bowsprit addressed overall balance under sail. Genoa tracks are recessed for barefoot comfort, and a rugged custom traveler sits just forward of the hard dodger/bimini, with traveler controls and a mid-boom Lewmar mainsheet system led aft through the dodger to a pair of Lewmar winches. An Antal whiskerpole adjustment track works with a Forespar whisker pole for poling headsails, and a spinnaker pole package remains an option. Off the breeze the spar is controlled by a pair of preventers led aft port and starboard, since the boat does not carry a dedicated boom vang. In practical terms test sailors found her sure-footed: she tacked through 105 degrees in flat water, turned in a boat length or less, and backed down nicely with the standard 3-blade prop. Under power at 2,500 RPM in a slight chop she made 6.6 knots.
Accommodations
Valiant offers five basic interior layouts for the 42, from which owners are encouraged to customize the details. The Center Entry Queen and Center Entry Pullman both have a single aft head, differentiated by forward stateroom arrangement, while the Center Entry Queen/Two Heads adds a second head forward. The two Side Entry models shift the companionway offset to starboard and drop the separate showers of the Center Entry versions; the Side Entry Traditional follows the original 40 with a forward head and V-berth, and the Side Entry Pullman substitutes an offset forward berth and aft head. The cockpit was redesigned with higher coamings encircling the entire space, and the seats run over seven feet long — fine for sleeping underway. Inside, the main cabin pairs settees around a drop-leaf table just forward of a U-shaped port galley with a 3-burner stainless oven, twin sinks, and Seafrost fridge; the forward-facing nav station is to starboard with the head and wet locker behind the navigator's seat. The aft berth to port measures 6'8" by 4'8", with a clever side bulkhead opening for ventilation or topsides communication.
Known Issues
Practical Sailor's survey found that the placement of the halyard winch under the dodger makes grinding the last few inches of the main halyard a bit difficult, a minor but real handling annoyance at the masthead. The boat also does without a dedicated boom vang, relying instead on the twin preventer arrangement for offwind spar control. Otherwise the documented quirks are few, and the semi-custom nature means owner-tweaked layouts can obscure a given boat's as-delivered configuration.
Refits and Ownership
Because it is a semi-custom boat, an owner can tweak these basic layouts, and the documented standard equipment leaves little urgent to address. The standard 44-hp freshwater-cooled Westerbeke with V-drive and dripless shaft (a 55-hp Westerbeke optional) sits behind good fold-up companionway ladder access, fed by split alloy tanks to either side of the lazarette and a single Racor filter. Tinned copper wiring meets ABYC specs, and the two-bank gel battery system sits under the aft berth with a 100-amp alternator and 110-volt charger. Removable stainless water tanks beneath the settees simplify service. The bowsprit carries a Schaeffer roller furler and dual bow rollers with a Lighthouse windlass, and seven Lewmar hatches, Dorade vents, and Hood ports were fitted to the test boat.
The Verdict
The Valiant 42 refines Perry's 40 with a taller rig, cleaner deck, and heavier ballast while preserving the detached keel-rudder efficiency and full-aft-section sea-kindliness that define the line. It is a considered offshore cruiser with genuine semi-custom flexibility and a documented handling envelope that inspires confidence in close quarters and under sail.
Pros
- Third-iteration Vacanti-shaped keel foil with added 1,800 lb ballast for stability and efficiency
- Taller double-spreader rig adds 77 sq ft sail area and improves light-air performance
- Five semi-custom interior layouts with over-seven-foot cockpit seats
- Clean deck without hatch bosses and minimal teak reduces maintenance
- Sure close-quarters handling: turns in a boat length, backs down well
Cons
- Halyard winch placed under dodger makes final main hoist awkward
- No dedicated boom vang; relies on twin preventer setup offwind
