Valiant 42 Buyer's Guide
The Valiant 42 entered the brokerage world as the 1993 evolution of Bob Perry's Valiant 40, a semi-custom cutter with the same bluewater intent but a modernized deck and added bowsprit. For a shopper, the appeal is a customizable 42-foot platform with serious ballast and a refined rig—but the used fleet spans owner-chosen layouts and refit histories that deserve a careful look before commit.
Layouts on the Used Market
Valiant offered five basic interior arrangements, and because the 42 was semi-custom, owners were free to tweak them. In the Center Entry Queen and Center Entry Pullman, the head is aft and sole; the Queen/Two Heads layout adds a forward head. The two Side Entry versions move the companionway to starboard and drop the separate showers found in Center Entry boats—the Traditional keeps the 40's forward head and V-berth, while the Pullman uses an offset forward berth with an aft head. A Center Entry Queen test boat showed 6'5" headroom; the aft berth to port measured 6'8" by 4'8". Cockpit seats over seven feet long double as sea berths, and higher coamings wrap the whole cockpit. Buyers should confirm which of the five plans a given hull carries and whether the semi-custom changes affect systems routing.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
On the used market, Valiant 42s commonly carry radar, autopilot, inverter, AIS, watermaker, air conditioning, electric winches, chartplotter, dodger, dinghy davits, bimini, hardtop, and a short-handed setup. For a buyer, the consequential clusters are power and energy—watermakers and air conditioning draw heavily, so verify the inverter and house bank—and sail handling, where electric winches and a hardtop or dodger shape daily ease. Navigation is covered by chartplotter, radar, and AIS as standard-fit on most boats. Less commonly, you'll find heating, solar, lithium batteries, spinnaker or asymmetric, EPIRB, and life raft as owner upgrades. The standard 44-hp Westerbeke with V-drive means diesel condition matters more than optional power add-ons.
What to Inspect
The one documented handling quirk is the halyard winch placed under the dodger, which makes grinding the last few inches of the main halyard difficult anchor. Check that the winch and lead are serviceable and that the lack of a dedicated boom vang hasn't led to jury-rigged vang solutions using the twin preventers. Otherwise, verify the standard systems: fold-up companionway ladder engine access, single Racor filter, two-bank gel batteries under the aft berth, removable alloy fuel and stainless water tanks, and ABYC-spec tinned wiring. The split tanks and removable settee water tanks are owner-serviceable points worth confirming intact.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The typical market for used Valiant 42s is the United States. When evaluating a hull, keep this short checklist in hand:
- Confirm which of the five layouts (and any semi-custom changes) is fitted
- Inspect the under-dodger halyard winch and any vang workarounds
- Verify engine access, Racor, and dripless shaft condition
- Test the two-bank gel battery system and 100-amp alternator
- Check removable fuel and water tanks for corrosion or previous removal
- Confirm commonly fitted gear (watermaker, autopilot, electric winches) is operational
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Valiant 42. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 9 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $275,000 | — |
| Aug 25 | 1 | $220,000 | -20.0% |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $239,000 | +8.6% |
| Jan 26 | 4 | $209,900 | -12.2% |
| Mar 26 | 6 | $299,999 | +42.9% |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $315,000 | +5.0% |
| May 26 | 3 | $315,000 | 0.0% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $229,000 | -27.3% |
| Aug 26 | 1 | $349,562 | +52.6% |
Where they're listed
Valiant 42 listings appear across 2 countries. United States has the most listings with 16 (94.1%), followed by Portugal.
Country view
17 listings · 2 countries| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $299,999 | 16 | 3 | 94.1% |
| Portugal | $349,562 | 1 | 1 | 5.9% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tayana Vancouver 42 | 41.75' | $ 119,948 | 50 | 12 |
| Valiant 42You are here | — | $ 299,999 | 18 | 4 |
| Tartan 42 | 42' | $ 89,000 | 13 | 11 |
| Moody 42 | 41.79' | $ 62,034 | 12 | 1 |
| Rustler 42 | 42' | $ 474,924 | 9 | 3 |
| Oyster Yachts 42 | 41.83' | $ 201,526 | 7 | 2 |