Valiant 42 RS Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design Brief & Intent

The Valiant 42 RS was conceived to serve as an uncompromising, blue-water passage maker for shorthanded crews, primarily cruising couples. Unlike the mass-production coastal cruisers of the era from European builders, or the heavily insulated, ultra-traditional offshore cruisers from the Far East, the Valiant 42 RS sought a distinct middle ground: an easily managed, high-strength vessel that rewarded active sailing while providing unparalleled safety. What set the RS variant apart from the standard Valiant 42 was its raised salon configuration. By elevating the cabin house, Valiant allowed the galley, salon, and navigation station to sit on a single elevated level. This design choice addressed a common complaint among long-term cruisers—the feeling of being isolated in a deep, dark "cave" below decks. Huge, half-inch-thick, aircraft-grade Lexan portlights in heavy aluminum frames flooded the interior with natural light and offered panoramic views of the horizon, enabling watchkeepers to monitor conditions from the comfort of the companionway using autopilot remotes.

The interior joinery and structural integrity of the cabin reflect Valiant's legendary attention to detail. Every piece of vertical and horizontal furniture is meticulously fiberglass-bonded directly to the hull and deck, transforming the interior cabinetry into structural bulkheads that dramatically stiffen the entire yacht 5. Rich, hand-rubbed cherry or teak joinery, accented with ash and poplar, defines the living spaces. The craftsmanship is robust and marine-grade, with heavy solid-wood doors, deep fiddle rails to keep items secure at sea, and high-quality latches that do not rattle. By comparison to competing boats of the era, such as the Island Packet 40 or Hallberg-Rassy 42, the Valiant’s interior feels less like a production boat and more like a custom, hand-crafted yacht tailored for the structural violence of the open ocean.

Variations & Configurations

While the classic Valiant hull remained relatively unchanged throughout its long production run, the 42 RS was offered with key structural and layout configurations designed to match the specific needs of its owners. Primarily rigged as a cutter, the 42 RS utilized a robust, custom-fabricated stainless steel bowsprit that extended the foretriangle, allowing for a highly versatile and easily managed sail plan. The cutter rig was standard, featuring a staysail on a removable or furling inner forestay, which allowed the crew to easily downsize the sail plan in heavy weather without leaving the cockpit.

Draft options were another crucial differentiator. The standard deep-draft fin keel drew a full six feet, maximizing lift and pointing ability. However, for cruisers aiming for the shallow waters of the Bahamas, Florida, or the Intracoastal Waterway, Valiant offered a shoal-draft variant drawing five feet, six inches. This shallow option employed a modified fin keel design developed in partnership with keel specialist David Vacanti, which utilized a wider leading edge and a narrower trailing edge to preserve as much hydrodynamic efficiency and lift as possible, mitigating the usual performance sacrifices of a shallow draft.

Below decks, although the raised salon profile dictated a specific elevation of the main cabin, owners could still select different forward layouts. While some hulls featured an offset Pullman berth with an adjacent forward head, the most popular configuration among cruising couples was the Center Entry Queen layout. This layout featured a generous double V-berth forward with extensive hanging lockers, bookshelves, and deep storage underneath, positioning the primary head and stall shower aft, adjacent to the companionway where it is most accessible and stable during rough passages.

Sailing Performance & Handling

Under sail, the Valiant 42 RS behaves like a thoroughbred ocean voyager, carrying its displacement with remarkable grace. Its technical ratios tell the story of a boat optimized for predictable safety and tracking in a seaway. With a displacement-to-length ratio of 271.79, the 42 RS falls firmly into the moderate-to-heavy displacement category. In physical terms, this gives the hull immense physical momentum; it does not get easily stopped or tossed about by steep head seas, but rather punches through waves with an easy, sea-kindly motion that minimizes crew fatigue.

This comfortable ride is further validated by a Motion Comfort Ratio of 35.44. The boat resists the sharp, jerky, rapid accelerations of modern flat-bottomed designs, instead exhibiting a slow, gentle rolling period that allows the crew to sleep, cook, and move about safely underway. Coupled with a Capsize Screening Ratio of 1.74, which sits well below the critical 2.0 safety threshold, the 42 RS guarantees exceptional ultimate stability and peace of mind during heavy-weather knockdowns. A ballast-to-displacement ratio of 38.0% further contributes to this stiffness, ensuring the boat stands up to its canvas and carries its sail plan efficiently.

The sail area-to-displacement ratio of 14.84 highlights a conservative, offshore-biased rig. In light airs under ten knots, the boat is relatively heavy and will feel underpowered without the assistance of a specialized reaching sail, such as an asymmetrical spinnaker or a large genoa. However, once the wind climbs past fifteen knots, the hull comes alive. The helm remains incredibly balanced, and the long, cutaway fin keel and deep, skeg-hung rudder allow the boat to track straight and true with minimal input. Owners frequently report that the 42 RS can be steered easily with a single finger on the wheel or will track perfectly for hours under a mechanical windvane, allowing shorthanded crews to preserve battery power and rest.

Market Snapshot & Economics

The Valiant 42 RS occupies a highly coveted niche on the brokerage market, trading as a premium, low-volume blue-water classic. Because Valiant Yachts ceased production in 2011, these boats are relatively scarce, and when a well-maintained example does appear, it commands a significant premium over production cruisers of similar vintage. The boat’s reputation for bulletproof construction and its association with Bob Perry's legendary design pedigree protect it from the rapid depreciation seen in more mainstream brands.

From an economic perspective, buyers of a Valiant 42 RS must budget for the realities of maintaining a high-end, aging ocean voyager. While the hull and deck structures are incredibly robust, many of these vessels have accumulated tens of thousands of ocean miles. A prospective owner should expect to budget for standard major refit items, such as replacing standing rigging, updating older electronics suites, and servicing or replacing the auxiliary propulsion systems. The Westerbeke diesel engines installed in these hulls are exceptionally reliable when properly maintained, but reaching the end of their service life may require a substantial repowering investment. Fortunately, because the boat’s overall structural integrity remains virtually timeless, investing in major refits on a Valiant 42 RS is widely considered economically sound, as the finished vessel will easily retain its market value and remain highly attractive to the next generation of blue-water cruisers.

Known Issues & Triage

The most significant historical issue associated with the Valiant brand—the notorious hull blistering caused by fire-retardant Hetron resins—is entirely absent from the Valiant 42 RS. Those issues were strictly confined to Uniflite-built hulls constructed between 1976 and 1981. All Valiant 42 RS models were built at the Texas factory using high-quality isophthalic polyester resins and gelcoats, making hull blistering a non-issue.

However, like any yacht of this vintage, the 42 RS has specific areas requiring careful inspection and preventative maintenance. The primary point of triage is the balsa-cored deck 9. While Valiant utilized high-density structural foam in high-load areas and carefully through-bolted all factory hardware with backing plates, any aftermarket equipment installed by previous owners without proper sealing can lead to localized moisture intrusion. Particular attention should be paid to the areas surrounding the massive stainless steel bowsprit, the windlass, and the stanchion bases, where high sailing loads can fatigue sealant over time and allow water to weep into the core.

Additionally, the chainplates require diligent oversight. Valiant wisely avoided glassing the chainplates directly into the hull laminate, instead through-bolting them to solid fiberglass structural knees glassed to the hull. This makes them far easier to inspect than on many other cruisers. However, they must still be periodically re-bedded from the deck side to prevent saltwater from weeping down the stainless steel straps. If neglected, crevice corrosion can develop in the damp, oxygen-deprived environment where the chainplates pass through the deck, threatening rig integrity. Lastly, because the engine is coupled to a V-drive transmission, access to the stuffing box and shaft log is tucked deep beneath the aft cabin berth, making routine packing gland adjustments or shaft alignment checks physically demanding and easily overlooked by negligent owners.

Modernization & Upgrades

Modern owners of the Valiant 42 RS are actively retrofitting these vessels to meet the demands of self-sufficient, long-range cruising. The most popular modernization project involves upgrading the yacht’s electrical architecture. Cruisers are increasingly replacing the original, heavy lead-acid or AGM battery banks with high-capacity Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) systems. The spacious engine compartment and dedicated battery lockers easily accommodate these conversions. To support the rapid charging requirements of lithium chemistry, owners are installing high-output alternators, such as Balmar 120-amp or 170-amp units, paired with smart external regulators to protect the engine’s belt drive system.

Renewable energy integration is another key focus. Because the 42 RS features a clean, uncluttered deck with minimal exterior woodwork, owners are free to mount heavy-duty stainless steel stern arches. These arches serve a dual purpose: they act as robust davits for a tender and provide an elevated, unshaded platform for high-wattage solar arrays. When paired with modern MPPT solar controllers and wind generators, many owners report achieving complete energy self-sufficiency, allowing them to run modern luxuries like watermakers and even reverse-cycle air conditioning units without relying on a diesel generator. Additionally, replacing the older, power-hungry incandescent lighting with LED fixtures throughout the interior and navigation stations dramatically lowers the boat's daily power budget, making the transition to a modern, off-the-grid cruising platform highly viable.

The Verdict

The Valiant 42 RS remains one of the finest American-built blue-water cruising yachts ever constructed, representing the absolute pinnacle of Bob Perry’s performance-cruising evolution. It is a boat built for the harsh realities of ocean passage-making, offering an exceptional balance of structural safety, comfortable motion, and predictable handling. While it is not a light-air racer and commands a premium on the used market, its bulletproof construction, raised-salon visibility, and legendary pedigree make it a premier choice for shorthanded couples aiming to cross oceans in comfort and safety.

Pros

Exceptional ultimate stability with a low capsize screening ratio and robust ballast.
Extremely comfortable, sea-kindly motion in heavy weather that minimizes crew fatigue.
Raised salon configuration offers outstanding light and panoramic visibility from below decks.
High-strength, hand-laminated construction with all furniture glassed directly to the hull 5.
Accessible chainplates and straightforward systems layout for easy owner maintenance.
Complete absence of the historical blistering issues found in early Valiant models.