The Valiant 47 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Valiant 47, an aft cockpit cutter, was designed by Robert Perry and built in the USA by Valiant Yachts.

s/y Oasis, a Valiant 47 cruising boat, on one of the many visitor's moorings in the British Virgin Islands

A Valiant 47 cutter

Published Specification for the Valiant 47

Underwater Configuration: Fin keel with skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 47'0" (14.3m)

Waterline Length: 40'3" (12.3m)

Beam: 13'10" (4.2m)

Draft: 6'3" (1.9m)

Rig Type: Cutter

Displacement: 30,000lb (13,608kg)

Designer: Robert Perry

Builder: Valiant Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 1981

Year Last Built: 1992

Number Built: 17

Published Design Ratios for the Valiant 47

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 17.7

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: 36.7

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 205

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 33.2

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: 1.8

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 47

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 17.7 suggests that the Valiant 47 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 36.7 means that the Valiant 47 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 205, tells us the Valiant 47 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 33.2 suggests that crew comfort of a Valiant 47 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 1.8 tells us that a Valiant 47 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.

The Valiant 47: Is it one of the best bluewater sailboats ever made?

The Valiant 47 was designed by Robert Perry, a renowned naval architect who also created the Valiant 40, the first production sailboat to feature a modified full keel with a cutaway forefoot and a skeg-hung rudder. This design offers a good balance of performance, stability, and maneuverability, making it ideal for offshore sailing.

The Valiant 47 is a larger and more refined version of the Valiant 40, with more interior space, more storage, and more amenities. The boat has a length of 14.3 m (47ft), a beam of 4.1m (13.5ft), and a draft of 1.8m (6ft). It has a displacement of 14,061kg (31,000lb) and a ballast of 5,443kg (12,000lb). It has a masthead rig with a slab reefing mainsail and a roller furling genoa. The mast is keel stepped for extra strength and stability.

The Valiant 47 has an aft cockpit with a large wheel and a spacious seating area. The cockpit is well protected by a dodger and a bimini, and has easy access to the stern platform and the transom-mounted davits. The cockpit also has a large locker that can store a generator, an air conditioner, or other equipment.

The interior of the Valiant 47 is warm and inviting, with teak woodwork and plenty of natural light. The layout can vary depending on the owner's preferences, but typically it consists of two or three cabins and one or two heads. The forward cabin has a V-berth that can be converted into a double berth with an insert. The forward head is located next to the cabin and has a shower stall.

The main saloon has a U-shaped settee to port that can also serve as a double berth, and a straight settee to starboard that can be used as a single berth. The saloon has a large folding table that can accommodate six people for dining.

The navigation station is located aft of the starboard settee and has a large chart table and an instrument panel. The galley is located aft of the port settee and has a three-burner stove with an oven, a double sink, a refrigerator, and ample counter space and storage.

The aft cabin has either two single berths or one double berth, depending on the configuration. The aft head is located next to the cabin and has a shower stall.

The Valiant 47 is equipped with a reliable diesel engine that can provide enough power for motoring in light winds or calm seas. The boat has a fuel capacity of 378 L (100 gal) and a water capacity of 757 L (200 gal). It also has an electrical system that can be powered by batteries, shore power, or solar panels.

The Valiant 47 is not only comfortable but also fast and seaworthy. It can sail well in various wind conditions, from light breezes to strong gales. It can handle rough seas with ease, thanks to its solid construction and its moderate weight distribution. It has an easy and comfortable motion at sea under sail, without excessive heeling or pitching. It is also responsive and agile at the helm, making it fun to sail.

The Valiant 47 is not without its drawbacks, however. Some of the potential issues that buyers should be aware of are:

The boat is relatively expensive compared to other similar-sized sailboats on the market.

The boat may have some blistering problems on the hull due to osmosis if it was built before 1984 when Uniflite Inc., the original manufacturer, switched to using vinylester resin instead of polyester resin.

The boat may have some maintenance issues due to its age and complexity.

The boat may have some difficulty sailing upwind due to its long keel and high freeboard.

The boat may have some limited visibility from the cockpit due to its high cabin top.

Despite these minor flaws, the Valiant 47 remains one of the most popular and respected sailboats among cruising sailors. It is a boat that can take you anywhere you want to go, in style and comfort.

The above text was drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; we believe it to be accurate to the best of our knowledge.