Next message: Bryan Genez: "Re: [world-cruising] Why a Valiant 40"
Jeff I agree with every thing you said. I sail a boat
by the same designer. Bob Perry. I have a Baba 40,
witch is a 3/4 keel, that will go to weather just as
well as your fin keel. Comfort at sea is a big deal.
I have done a number of deliveries on the west coast,
where It can get a little rough. Even working the
weather, the seas maybe not that tall but they are of
a short interval. The bigger the keel, the better the
ride. The inside of a baba vs a vallant is not to
much different, in regards to hand holds, and galley
layout. I like things that work. If it doesn't work,
then get it off the boat or get rid of the boat.
People have crossed oceans in all kinds of crafts.
And every boat is a comprise. Just having my 3rd beer,
and had to put in my 2 cents.
Pete
S/V Murphy's Lawyer
Baba 40 #6
50 Ton Masters, Sailing, and Towing
--- Jeff <> wrote:
> Oh my!
>
> Well, here goes.
>
> First off, we sailed many boats racing. We liked
> to sail, but
> noticed that many boats people go cruising on either
> don't sail, or
> track poorly. Many finkeelers yaw around in a
> quartering sea, which
> makes life unpleasant at least, and dangerous if mal
> de mer strikes
> off a lee shore.
> Secondly, we wanted a boat we could afford
> without spending the
> whole cruising kitty on a boat. We had saved a lot
> for cruising but
> we didn't have means to spend more than $100,000 on
> the boat without
> a longer delay to pay for the boat.
> Thirdly, our boat had to have a sterling
> reputation as a sea
> boat. We didn't particularly care what kind of boat
> it was, in fact
> we considered many types, including center cockpit
> and aft cockpit,
> cutters and yawls and ketches. The right boat would
> protect us and
> forgive us our ignorances in pressing situations.
> It would be able
> to look after itself if we were no longer capable.
> We did a lot of
> study. We compared raw numbers, statistics,
> righting moments,
> comfort factors, etc.
> Fourthmost, we needed a boat capable of a good
> turn of speed
> because speed is safety at sea. Getting to safe
> harbor is the name
> of the game on a long ocean passage. We plan to
> relish the
> experience of safe crossings, but we also recognize
> that the
> objective is to see the great cities of the world
> from their
> waterfronts, not endure survival conditions on the
> way to them.
> Fifth, ergonomics in port and at sea. Handholds
> where they
> should be, foot catches where their needed. Points
> to brace against
> when needed. Secure low-side sea berths on port and
> starboard. A
> rig that we each could handle alone. Secure
> bulwarks to keep you on
> board in a gale. Secure hatches and ports to fend
> off a boarding
> sea. Robust construction that will get us to the
> other side. A
> flare to the forward sections to keep the boat dryer
> in a driving
> reach. A small cockpit to reduce flooding. No
> windows in the
> cockpit to downfill a compartment from. Secure
> anchor points to
> clip in before leaving the gangway. A solid nav
> desk where a
> seasick mariner can plot a course out of trouble. A
> wet locker near
> the gangway that keeps the cabin dry. Good sumps to
> collect shipped
> water to pump over efficiently. Adequate tankage
> for an ocean
> crossing. No large open spaces to be thrown across
> in an active
> seaway. Enough "ass" under the boat to make the
> motion gentler.
>
> So we went shopping. We sailed 30 different
> boats. Some for a
> day, some for a week passage or longer. And then we
> stepped on a
> new Valiant 42 at a sailboat show. We liked it. We
> saw all the
> things that we wanted. All the things listed above.
> But we still
> had not sailed one.
>
> About a year later we put a contract on one in
> California. We
> did a sea trial on a Valiant 40 from San Pedro with
> VERY TIRED
> sails. We sailed it out the entrance of Long Beach
> Harbor, sailing
> upwind and down, across wind and around. Part way
> through the test
> sail the broker's agent (Who had told us he had just
> bought a Harden
> 45 (?) said, "Wow, this boat sails REALLY well." My
> wife and I just
> exchanged a knowing smile. In short, we had both
> sailed enough
> boats in enough conditions to immediately recognize
> that this boat
> was a spectacular sailer. That day we knew we had
> to have one.
> Every other boat would have been less. Valiant went
> from on the
> short list with the other boats I mentioned, to
> being the only boat
> on the list.
>
> Now a year after purchase we are still glad of
> our decision.
> From our learned search we determined that there is
> no better sea
> boat for a couple than a Valiant 40 cutter. Ours is
> one of three
> centerboard models. Even the standard keel sails
> like a dream, the
> centerboarders just a little bit higher point of
> sail. The sails
> are all small, the miles put akeel in a day are
> always large.
>
> In summary, there are many boats you can buy,
> but for us,
> without any prejudice going into it, we found that
> the Valiant 40
> was a choice, then a good choice, then the only
> choice. Any other
> boat would be less than a V-40 is. My wife and I
> have often said
> this is the last sailboat we will ever own. When we
> are ready to
> sell it we will swallow the anchor and move on to
> other pursuits.
> Bob Perry got it ALL RIGHT when he drew the Valiant
> 40. This boat,
> to us, is a sweetspot of sailing magic.
>
> Jeff & Elise Hazzard
> Valiant 40 SeaSpan
>
>
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