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to reach
the mainsail. The bowsprit/anchor platform is pure and simple overkill; the structure's 2.75
inch-diameter heavy-wall
stainless-steel tubing is so hefty it will not yield in
any anchoring situation or in just about any collision scenario. The Valiant
50's interior
can be configured a
number of ways. All bulkheads, deck hatches, and ports, everything but
the engine, can be moved to suit an owner. The standard
layout features a double berth adjacent to the companionway, a judicious arrangement for watchkeeping
couples, and a guest cabin forward
(the area can alternatively be built with stacked bunks, a workbench, or a "garage" for cruising
gear). The saloon can seat six or more for dinner, headroom in the cabin is 6 feet, 7 inches, and the
deep bilges double as
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stowage areas under the locking floorboards.
The galley reflects the overall purpose of the Valiant 50 and demonstrates the generous amount
of living space and stowage throughout the boat. The deep U-shaped galley is a secure and productive
workplace for the cook; totally removed from the
traffic pattern, the chef has at his or her disposal a whopping 17.7 square feet of counter space, well-
insulated and organized
refrigerator/freezer space, dual 10" deep sinks, and a homestyle
slide-out trash bin arrangement. The sit-in, lighted engine room, with multiple
access panels, will be welcomed by visiting mechanics and do-it-yourselfers. Machinery and systems execution on
the 50 is of a very high
standard; all wiring, hoses, and plumbing are neatly organized,
clearly labeled, and accessible. The builder has applied engineering
solutions to head off long-term problems. The
engine bed, for example, features an aluminum-rail weldment that carries the engine mounts and is
through-bolted to the fiberglass bed. The Valiant 50 is meant to carry sailors
across oceans, and the builder, by training a singleminded focus on the special requirements of
bluewater voyaging, has achieved this objective. From stem to stern, this is a boat that is capable
of earning a bluewater sailor's trust.
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