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Sanctuary, hull #119, was built in 1975, before introduction of the blister-causing resin change problem.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Valiant 40 sailboat is an aft cockpit double-ender, or canoe stern, cutter rigged monohull designed by naval architect
Robert Perry in 1973(?) near Seattle, Washington, USA.
The Valiant 40 design was considered revolutionary at the time it was first constructed because it was a "light displacement
cruising boat" which was the first open-ocean going cruising monohull to have a modified keel designed to reduce weight
and wetted surface while increasing speed and ease of propulsion of the hull shape by the wind.
At some point during its production run at the original Valiant factory, probably from 1977 to 1981, a new type of resin
was used in the fiberglass or glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) layup. The new resin was designed to be fire retardant, and was
originally developed to the specifications of the US military late in the Viet Nam conflict. It is widely suspected, but never
scientifically proven, that the new resin-type caused the Valiant boats manufactured with it to suffer non-osmotic blisters
of the hulls, deck, and cabinhouse structures. Considerable blister flaws developed in these boats, thought by most authorities
to be cosmetic and not of structural consequence.
Many of the "blister boats" were "repaired" by stripping the outer layers of fiberglass off the exterior
of the hull (either undersides and topsides, or just undersides below the water line). The repair then involved drying out
the stripped hull for several months (commonly in the California or Mexico desert), followed by reglassing the exterior with
several layers of fiberglass with vinylester resin or polyester resin.
The success of several Valiant 40s competing in long ocean races during the early 1980s brought this boat to the notice
of the world sailing community. Of special importance was a solo "wrong way" race completed in the Southern Ocean
on a Westabout course, sailing into the prevailing winds, using a factory-stock V-40. Many cruising couples have made successful
transoceanic voyages and Valiant 40s are reported to turn 160-mile (256 km) days regularly on a passage.
The Valiant 40 was elected to the Sailboat Hall of Fame and was named Cruising Sailboat of the Decade. Used Valiant 40s
have a good resale market in North America and other continents.
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