Design and Construction
Perry gave the 42 a fine entry, a relatively long waterline, and full sections aft. Its separate keel and rudder minimize wetted surface.
The keel is in its third iteration. Specialist Dave Vacanti helped shape it into a foil with a larger leading edge and smaller trailing edge, intended to improve lift and efficiency. Compared with the Valiant 40, the 42 carries an additional 1,800 pounds of ballast for greater stability.
The deck was rebuilt without hatch bosses, giving it a cleaner, lower-maintenance topside. Teak is almost entirely absent. It’s limited to a pair of optional bowsprit planks, an eyebrow near the traveler, companionway trim, and the swim-ladder steps.
Rig and Deck Handling
The Valiant 40’s single-spreader rig gave way to a taller, double-spreader spar on the 42. It adds 77 square feet of sail area and improves performance in light air.
A substantial stainless-steel bowsprit helps the boat’s overall balance under sail. It carries a Schaeffer System 3100 roller furler and dual bow rollers, working alongside the standard Lighthouse windlass. Recessed genoa tracks are easier on bare feet.
A rugged traveler sits just forward of the hard dodger/bimini. Its controls and the mid-boom Lewmar mainsheet lead aft to a pair of winches. The standard Lewmar 58CST primaries are reassuringly oversized.
There’s no dedicated boom vang. Off the wind, a pair of preventers led port and starboard control the spar. Testers also found that the halyard winch, tucked beneath the dodger, made it difficult to grind in the final few inches of the mainsail hoist.
The 42 tacked through 105 degrees in flat water. Under power, it turned within a boat length or less with the standard 3-blade prop and backed down nicely.
Performance Under Sail and Power
Practical Sailor’s test crew sailed the 42 in a range of conditions. In 7 to 8 knots of true wind, with a full Dacron mainsail and high-cut 130 percent genoa, she made 3.9 to 4.2 knots. In 12 knots, it recorded 5.2 knots close-hauled; in 14 knots, it made 6 knots upwind.
On a beam reach in 10 knots of true wind, the 42 made 6.4 to 6.6 knots. As the breeze faded on a broad reach, speed eased to 4.5 to 4.7 knots.
Under power at 2,500 RPM in a slight chop, the boat made 6.6 knots. With more than 24,000 pounds of displacement, these figures describe a stiff, steady cruiser rather than a featherweight racer.
Accommodations
Valiant offered five basic interior layouts, with owners able to customize the details.
The Center Entry Queen and Center Entry Pullman layouts share a single head aft. The Queen/Two Heads version adds a second head forward. Two Side Entry models move the companionway to starboard and omit the separate showers found in the Center Entry versions. The Side Entry Traditional follows the Valiant 40 arrangement, with a forward head and V-berth, while the Side Entry Pullman has an offset forward berth and aft head.
The test boat had the Center Entry Queen layout and 6'5" headroom throughout. In the main cabin, opposing settees flank a drop-leaf table. Just aft, the U-shaped galley to port has a 3-burner stainless oven, twin sinks, and a Seafrost 12-volt fridge.
The forward-facing navigation station is to starboard. The head and a wet locker are behind the navigator’s seat. The aft berth to port measures 6'8" by 4'8", and a bulkhead opening can provide either ventilation or privacy.
In the cockpit, seats more than seven feet long can serve as sleeping berths underway. Higher coamings surround the space.
Equipment and Systems
The standard engine was a freshwater-cooled 44-hp Westerbeke diesel with a 2.13:1 reduction, V-drive, and dripless shaft. A 55-hp Westerbeke was optional. Fold-up companionway ladders provide good engine access.
A single Racor filter was standard. All tinned copper wiring meets ABYC specifications. The two-bank battery system consists of four house gel cells and one starting cell beneath the aft berth, supplied by a 100-amp alternator and 110-volt charger.
Split alloy fuel tanks sit on either side of the lazarette. Removable stainless water tanks are fitted beneath the settees. At the helm, a 32-inch destroyer wheel on an Edson radial-drive pedestal proved more than adequate.
Verdict
The Valiant 42 develops Perry’s proven cruiser into a semi-custom bluewater platform with a taller rig, an efficient keel, and a thoughtfully arranged deck. It sails predictably across a range of wind conditions and offers unusual layout flexibility for a 42-footer. The awkwardly placed halyard winch and lack of a dedicated boom vang are minor drawbacks in day-to-day sail handling.
Pros
- Taller double-spreader rig with 77 square feet more sail area for improved light-air performance
- Third-iteration Vacanti keel foil designed for better lift and efficiency
- Five customizable semi-custom interior layouts
- Clean deck with minimal teak and no hatch bosses
- Good engine access and ABYC-compliant wiring
Cons
- Halyard winch beneath the dodger makes the final part of the mainsail hoist difficult
- No dedicated boom vang; twin preventers control the spar off the wind
