The Valiant 50 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Valiant 50 is still in production as of 2023, although it is not a mass-produced boat. Each Valiant 50 is built by hand, one at a time, according to the owner's specifications. The first Valiant 50 was first delivered in 1994, and since then about 40 boats have been built.

The sailing press has generally given positive reviews to the Valiant 50, praising its quality, durability, comfort, safety, and performance. For example, Blue Water Sailing magazine called it "a proven passagemaker that can take you anywhere you want to go". Sail magazine described it as "a serious cruising boat for serious cruisers". And Yacht Database rated it as "a very good choice for long-distance cruising".

The builders of the Valiant 50 are Valiant Yachts, a company founded in 1973 by Nathan Rothman and George Hazzard. They contracted Uniflite, a powerboat manufacturer in Washington, to build their first design, the Valiant 40, which was designed by Robert Perry and became a success among performance cruisers.

In 1981, Perry designed the Valiant 47 for them, which was also built by Uniflite until 1983. In 1984, Rich Worstell, a former dealer for Valiant Yachts, bought the company and moved it to Texas. He continued to build the Valiant 47 until 1993, when he updated it to the Valiant 50 with Perry's help.

He also introduced the Valiant 42 in 1992, which was based on the original Valiant 40. Worstell retired in 2007 and sold the company to Rob Ezzell and Mike Burns, who are still running it today.

The standard keel for the Valiant 50 is a fin keel with a draft of 6 feet 3 inches. It is made of lead and weighs 11,000 pounds. It is attached to the hull with 18 stainless steel J-bolts and bedded with 3M 5200 sealant. The optional keel for the Valiant 50 is a shoal draft keel with a draft of 5 feet 6 inches. It is also made of lead and weighs the same as the standard keel. It has a slightly different shape to maintain the same righting moment and stability as the standard keel.

The Valiant 50 is a pleasure to sail in most conditions. It has a well-balanced helm, a smooth motion, and a good turn of speed. It can handle light winds as well as heavy weather with ease. It is also easy to sail shorthanded, thanks to its cutter rig, self-tailing winches, and autopilot. It tracks well on all points of sail and can tack through less than 90 degrees. It is responsive and maneuverable, but also stable and forgiving.

The average cost of a secondhand Valiant 50 depends on several factors, such as the year, condition, equipment, and location of the boat. According to YachtWorld.com, the current listings for used Valiant 50s range from $299,000 to $499,000 USD, with an average of $388,000 USD.