The Valiant 40 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Valiant 40, a canoe-sterned aft-cockpit cutter, was designed by Bob Perry and built in the USA by Uniflite Inc (1975 to 1984) and Valiant Yachts (1975 to 1992).

'New World', a Valiant 40 Bluewater Cruising Yacht

A Valiant 40 cutter reaching under full sail

Published Specification for the Valiant 40

Underwater Configuration: Fin keel and skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass)

Length Overall: 39'10" (10.90m)

Waterline Length: 34'0" (10.36m)

Beam: 12'4" (3.76m)

Draft: 6'0" (1.83m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 22,500lb (10,206kg)

Designer: Bob Perry

Builder: Uniflite Inc (USA) and Valiant Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 1975

Year Last Built: 1992

Published Design Ratios for the Valiant 40

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.9

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 35.7

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 267

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 35.8

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Valiant 40

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 15.9 suggests that the Valiant 40 will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 35.7 means that unless the bulk of the ballast is concentrated in a bulb at the foot of her keel, the Valiant 40 will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and she'll need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 267, tells us the Valiant 40 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 35.8 suggests that crew comfort of a Valiant 40 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.7 tells us that a Valiant 40 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.