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Valiant 42

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About the Valiant 42

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Valiant 42
Photo: Mustad Marine, Public domain via Flickr · licence (upscaled)
Builder
Valiant Yachts (Gordonville, Texas)
Designer
Robert Perry
Length
39.9 ft
Waterline
34.5 ft
Beam
12.75 ft
Draft
6 ft
Displacement
24,600 lb
Ballast
9,500 lb
Hull / keel
fin keel
Rig
cutter
Propulsion
inboard
Water heater
AC + engine · standard
Generator
factory option
Stern thruster
not fitted
Steering
pedestal cable · Edson
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
  • Fuel unknown
    “87-gallon fuel capacity + two 5-gallon reserve fuel bags” — search excerpt (2010 42 CE (one listing)), denisonyachtsales.com
    Our earlier 100 gal rests on the sailboatdata spec database; a 2010 Valiant 42 CE listing gives 87 gal (tanks only, not counting fuel bags). Builder spec pages describe the alloy fuel tanks without capacities. Later CE/SE boats may differ from early 42s.
  • Water unknown
    “94-gallon stainless fresh water capacity” — search excerpt (2010 42 CE (one listing)), denisonyachtsales.com
    Our earlier 120 gal (from the sailboatdata spec database) vs 94 gal in a 2010 listing; no builder figure.
  • Holding unknown
    “34-gallon holding tank” — search excerpt (2010 42 CE (one listing)), denisonyachtsales.com
    One listing only (repeated on several broker sites); SpinSheet magazine says early V42s had an aluminum holding tank and later ones polyethylene.
  • Water heater AC + engine · standard
    “Water Heater: 110 volt and engine heated.” — builder, valiantsailboats.com · “Batteries are situated under the aft berth near the water heater” — review (2006), practical-sailor.com
    Builder website's Valiant 42 plumbing specification lists a 110V and engine-heated water heater as part of the boat's specification; capacity not given.

Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.

Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
  • Bow thruster unknown
    The builder website's mechanical, electrical, deck and construction specification pages don't mention a thruster, and no option list was found.
  • Stern thruster not fitted
    Our earlier figure of none has no source; the builder's standard specs are silent and no option list was found.
  • Steering pedestal cable · Edson
    “Steering | Edson pedestal radial drive with stainless steel destoyer wheel.” — builder, valiantsailboats.com · “Single lever side-mount for shifter and throttle at pedestal.” — builder, valiantsailboats.com
    Valiant's own specification pages give an Edson pedestal with radial drive (a chain-and-wire system) and destroyer wheel.

Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.

Sources disagree on first year, last year, fuel tank, water tank — left blank rather than guessed.

Same Perry hull as the Valiant 40 with a bowsprit, modified deck and keel, and more ballast. Texas-built boats used isophthalic resin and are not part of the blister era. Shoal draft 5.5 ft. A deck-saloon version (42RS) was also offered.

Engines fitted

Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.

Generator

factory option

“If desired, more tankage can be added in lieu of the generator in a locker aft of the engine under the cockpit” — review (2006), practical-sailor.com

The builder's mechanical/electrical specification lists no generator; Practical Sailor implies a generator was an option, with its space aft of the engine usable for extra tankage instead. Make and size not given.

Manuals and brochures online

Hosted by the builder or an owners' association; they own the copyright.

Known problems for this model

No well-sourced problem reports found yet.

Steering

Edson — Pedestal chain-and-wire steering parts: good

Edson (New Bedford, MA) still sells service parts: chain-and-wire kits, sprockets, idlers, pull-pull conduit steering and internal pedestal parts, and keeps steering data sheets by boat model, many decades old.

Parts sources: Edson Marine (service parts)

Common problems (3)
  • Old or slack steering wire steering
    Edson advises replacing steering wire about every five years, checking tension with the wheel locked, and inspecting under load annually; owners often find decades-old stiff wire.
    usna.edu · youtube.com
  • Lubrication and fastener checks steering
    Chain, wire, sheaves and pedestal bearings need regular oiling or greasing, and clevis/cotter pins and bolts should be checked monthly to avoid failures.
    usna.edu
  • Replacing engine control cables in the pedestal steering
    Swapping throttle/shift cables inside an Edson pedestal is a common owner job requiring removal of the wheel shaft sprocket pin.
    forums.sailboatowners.com

Edson — Traditional geared steerers (worm / rack-and-pinion) parts: good

Edson says its traditional wheels and geared steerers are still available, now built with modern materials; rack-and-pinion steerers are offered for transom-hung and inboard rudders.

Parts sources: Edson Marine (traditional steerers)

Model sources (13)

sailboatdata.com · spinsheet.com · boattomorrow.com · valiantsailboats.com · wavetrain.net · denisonyachtsales.com · sailnet.com · spinsheet.com · davetownleyyachts.com · valiantsailboats.com · practical-sailor.com · valiantsailboats.com · valiantsailboats.com

Other Valiant models

Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.