Valiant Yachts built the 50 by hand in Texas as an owner-specified offshore vessel, pairing a canoe stern and cutter rig with a modified fin keel and skeg rudder. Its canoe stern and cutter rig are paired with a modified fin keel and skeg rudder—proven concepts that Perry traces to such inspirations as Colin Archer and William Atkin. Production of new hulls ended on January 22, 2011, but the manufacturer’s sister company continues to supply parts and refurbish older boats.
Design Lineage and Underwater Profile
Perry’s Valiant 47, launched in 1981, had already become one of the world’s most respected bluewater sailboats when he reworked it into the 50. He added a bowsprit and moved the mast forward—by his own account, something like 13 inches forward of its position on the earlier boat.
Together, those changes give the 50 its distinguishing profile and a better-balanced helm than the 47. Perry has long aimed for as close to a neutral helm as possible. He also suggested that the 50 might be the better performer in the “magic” wind range of 15 to 22 knots, when the crew doesn’t need to compromise sail trim to keep the helm gentle.
Below the waterline, the 50 has a fin keel and skeg-hung rudder. The standard lead keel draws 6 feet 3 inches, while the optional shoal lead keel draws 5 feet 6 inches. The shoal version is shaped to preserve the same righting moment and stability as the standard keel.
Construction and Customization
The Valiant 50 has a one-piece, solid-fiberglass hull made with isophthalic resin. The laminate is close to two inches thick where the bilge turns. High-density structural-foam floor timbers are covered in fiberglass and glassed to the hull.
The cabin sole consists of solid half-inch teak and holly over 3/4-inch marine plywood. The deck is secured with 5200 adhesive, and an aluminum toerail is through-bolted every 4 1/2 inches.
Valiant built each boat by hand, one at a time, with construction taking about eight months. The build sequence placed the engine, tanks, and stove last so that each could later be removed for repair.
Owners could personalize the hull to suit their needs, choosing among four basic interior arrangements and two companionway locations. The deck mold also allowed buyers to select a center or offset companionway and specify the locations of hatches, portlights, and Dorades.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The cutter rig carries a modest 1,036 square feet of sail on a displacement of 35,500 pounds. The resulting SA/D is reported at around 14.3 to 15.35, so the boat needs a stiff breeze to get going; in light air, motor-sailing may be the practical choice.
Ballast is 11,000 pounds, for a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 30.9. That figure suggests reefing early to keep the boat upright in a moderate breeze. At the same time, a displacement-length ratio of 243 identifies the 50 as a moderate-displacement cruiser that can carry cruising gear without a dramatic loss of performance.
Period reviews reported a well-balanced helm, smooth motion, and a good turn of speed. They also found that the boat handled light winds and heavy weather with equal ease. It tracks well on all points of sail, tacks through less than 90 degrees, and is responsive while remaining stable and forgiving.
A comfort ratio near 38 places its motion at sea among moderate bluewater cruisers. Its capsize screening figure is 1.9, compared with a figure above 2.0 for a less suitable ocean-passage choice, and its LPS is 125 degrees. Reviewers writing in Blue Water Sailing called the Valiant 50 a proven passagemaker that can take you anywhere, while Sail described it as a serious cruising boat for serious cruisers.
Accommodations and Service Access
The four basic interior arrangements and choice of center or offset companionway gave buyers considerable scope to tailor the accommodation plan. Owner-selected locations for hatches, portlights, and Dorades added another level of customization.
Details such as the solid teak-and-holly sole over marine plywood and the foam-cored floor timbers reflect the boat’s built-to-order nature rather than a repeated production layout. Installing the engine, tanks, and stove last also preserved access for their eventual removal, regardless of the chosen arrangement.
Production, Refits, and Ownership
Only about 40 Valiant 50 hulls were built from 1994 until new-boat production ended on January 22, 2011. That limited run means a small used inventory, and the degree of owner specification can produce meaningful differences from boat to boat.
Support continues through the manufacturer’s sister company, which supplies parts and concentrates on refurbishing older Valiants. For an owner-specified design, that continuity matters: a Valiant 50 bought today can still draw on factory-correct components and refurbishment expertise, helping these boats remain supportable far into the future.
The Verdict
The Valiant 50 is a thoughtful development of Perry’s earlier double-ender, carrying the 47’s bluewater pedigree into a more balanced and highly customizable 50-foot cruiser. Its solid isophthalic-resin hull, repair-minded installation sequence, moderate-displacement performance, and continued parts and refurbishment support make it a defensible passagemaker.
There are trade-offs. The low sail-area ratio means the engine may be needed in calm conditions, and the ballast-to-displacement ratio suggests reefing early when the breeze builds.
Pros
- Better-balanced helm and likely stronger performance than the 47 in 15–22 knots, thanks to the forward mast position and bowsprit
- One-piece, solid-fiberglass hull made with isophthalic resin, with laminate close to two inches thick where the bilge turns
- Engine, tanks, and stove installed last to allow their future removal for repair
- Capsize screening figure of 1.9 and LPS of 125 degrees for ocean-passage safety
- Continued parts supply and refurbishment through the manufacturer’s sister company
Cons
- Low SA/D near 14.3 means the boat needs a stiff breeze and may require motor-sailing in light air
- Ballast-to-displacement ratio of 30.9 suggests reefing early in a moderate breeze
- Only about 40 were built, resulting in limited used inventory and variation among owner-specified boats
