Valiant 37
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About the Valiant 37
Designed by renowned naval architect Robert Perry and built by Nordic/Uniflite starting in 1977, this 37-footer represents classic American cruising boat design from the late 1970s. With only 50 hulls produced, the Valiant 37 has achieved something of a cult following among serious cruising sailors who appreciate its blend of seaworthiness and sailing performance. Perry's design emphasizes offshore capability, evident in the boat's substantial 17,000-pound displacement and conservative sail plan. The cutter rig configuration provides excellent sail handling options for varying conditions, while the fin keel with rudder on skeg offers a good compromise between performance and directional stability. At 31.58 feet on the waterline, she achieves a respectable hull speed of 7.53 knots. The comfort ratio of 30.59 indicates a motion that favors stability over speed, making long passages more comfortable for the crew. Her capsize screening formula of 1.79 suggests good stability characteristics suitable for offshore work. The moderate sail area to displacement ratio of 16.2 points to a boat that will perform adequately in light to moderate conditions while remaining manageable when the wind picks up, making her well-suited for serious coastal and offshore cruising.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall)
37.00 ft / 11.28 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
31.58 ft / 9.63 m
Beam
11.50 ft / 3.51 m
Max Draft
5.80 ft / 1.77 m
Displacement
17,000.00 lb / 7,711 kg
Ballast
6,700.00 lb / 3,039 kg
Sail Area (Reported)
667.00 ft² / 61.97 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type
Cutter
Construction
FG
Designer
Robert Perry
Builder
Nordic/Uniflite
First Built
1977
Number Built
50
Related Sailboats
["Esprit 37" · "Pacific Seacraft 37" · "Passport 37" · "Endeavour 37" · "Oyster 37"]
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Known Issues & What to Watch For
Early Valiant 37s were built by Uniflite with a balsa-cored deck. The balsa core around chainplates, stanchion bases, and hardware fittings is prone to moisture intrusion and rot when fastener bedding fails. Core samples or moisture meters around all deck hardware are essential.
1977–1982 models
The hull-to-deck joint on early production boats used a through-bolted external aluminum toerail to clamp the joint. Corrosion of the aluminum extrusion and backing plates is common, and the joint itself can admit water if sealant has deteriorated.
pre-1983 models
The lead keel is attached with stainless steel keel bolts that pass through a relatively thin sump area. Galvanic interaction between the stainless bolts and lead keel can cause crevice corrosion in the bolt threads within the keel; the keel-to-hull interface should be inspected closely for cracking or weeping.
The skeg supporting the rudder is an integral fiberglass structure but has been reported to develop hairline cracks at the skeg-to-hull junction, particularly on boats with hard offshore miles. This area should be carefully inspected for stress cracking that may indicate structural fatigue.
The chainplate design on early boats routes internal chainplates through the deck with limited ability to inspect the below-deck portion. Chainplate knees and their tabbing to the hull interior should be inspected for delamination or cracking, as failures have been reported on heavily used offshore boats.
1977–1984 models
The cockpit locker lids and bridgedeck area on early models were lightly constructed and can flex or crack under load. Offshore sailors have upgraded these for compliance with offshore safety standards; verify condition and any modifications.
pre-1985 models
The teak interior joinery common to this era of Valiant 37 production used thin veneers over plywood substrates. Prolonged exposure to bilge moisture or cabin condensation causes the plywood to delaminate and the teak veneer to bubble and separate, particularly beneath the settees and in the forward cabin.
Many early Valiant 37s were delivered with the Westerbeke 30 or 40 diesel, installed in a somewhat tight engine room that makes access to the raw water impeller and heat exchanger difficult. Overheating due to neglected raw water system maintenance is a documented recurring issue on these boats.
Own or have surveyed a Valiant 37? Submit a known issue
Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement
Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
16.2
Ballast/Displacement
Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
39.41
Displacement/Length
Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
240.97
Comfort Ratio
Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
30.59
Capsize Screening Formula
The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
1.79
Hull Speed
Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions.
7.53 kn
S# (Speed Number)
The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
2.18
Pounds/Inch Immersion
Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline.
1,297.65 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc)
Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure.
16.2
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height)
49.00 ft / 14.94 m
J (Foretriangle Base)
16.00 ft / 4.88 m
P (Mainsail Luff)
44.00 ft / 13.41 m
E (Mainsail Foot)
12.50 ft / 3.81 m
SA Fore
392.00 ft² / 36.42 m²
SA Main
275.00 ft² / 25.55 m²
SA Total (100%)
667.00 ft² / 61.97 m²
Est. Forestay Length
51.55 ft / 15.71 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make
Westerbeke
Engine Type
Diesel
How It Compares
vs. Endeavour 37, Pacific Seacraft 37, Passport 37
This boat
Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
LWL
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
Beam
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
Displacement
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
Ballast
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
Sail Area
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
Performance
PHRF Rating
(lower = faster)
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
SA / Displacement
(higher = more powerful)
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
Ballast / Disp
(higher = stiffer)
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
Comfort Ratio
(higher = more comfortable offshore)
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
Capsize Screening
(lower = safer)
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
Displacement / Length
(lower = lighter)
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
Hull Speed
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
Speed Number
(higher = faster)
Valiant 37 ★
Endeavour 37
Pacific Seacraft 37
Passport 37
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