Caliber 40 LRC vs Valiant 42

[Stu Jackson]

IIRC, the Calibers had canted side decks. Is that the case? I remember being on one years ago and thought that design was dangerous at anchor, and who spends any time going forward when sailing if one doesn't have to? (i.e., the reason for the canted decks was the high side was flat when heeled, but the lee side then was a bloody cliff!!!)

[Allied39]

I had a customer with a caliber LRC, can't remember the length, around 40ft. I hated the bitch. The boat that is.
Besides the fact that we didn't get along there was two major design flaws which ring alarm bells for me.

1 The fuel tank was built in, It was AL, it was under the galley and it failed. Massive, and I mean massive work was required to replace it

2 The steering cables crossed in the pedestal. This was due to the fact no room was available to run through sheaves. So every time the wheel turned the cables rubbed. Sooner or later that LRC was going to have steering cable failure. Again and again.

I would certainly take those two points under consideration.

Can't comment on the valiant.

This post is for the OP, not interested in argueng or dealing with the trolls.

[Jono as 2234]

Just a comment on canoe stern's. My current boat has one and I agree with all the pro s and cons above. Additionally a major downside is the lack of bouyantcy at the stern leading to rolling. Major advantage is that she is more efficient. Slips through the water without dragging. a ton of so behind. Amazing diesel efficiency. Overall I would never have another canoe stern boat, I feel the disadvantages out weigh the benefits, however the dozens of Swanson 42 circumnavigations do make a statement, however their fat bums probably helped.

[Ween]

OK first post. Hopefully I won't offend anyone right away.

I spent a year looking in this category. Caliber 40, Valiant 40/42, Passport 40, Tayana 42, all the normal suspects. Got on all of them which is why it took over a year.

Liked the passport layout but the 2 I looked at to buy had the normal passport issues, one with the weak knees (they modified Perry's design and moved bulkheads so needed knees that they didn't execute well) and one with the floor buckling where they cast iron scrap under the nav station that swelled with corrosion. Both had trashed quadrant brackets (steel? really?)

Tayana was really nice until I learned they had encapsulated steel ballasts (why?) and black iron tankage buried and expensive to replace. Good price though and many around CC and AC.

Caliber was OK but I agree with the comments on oversized and buried tankage, ridiculous nav station size/location, and smallish pullman berth. Also didn't like the deck layout. Sloped side decks with chainplates and stays right in the middle of the path. And finally, kind of generic sailboat look. Nothing special about its looks.

I visited a somewhat loved and used Valiant 40 and could see the attraction but there a few issues and too much to do after it had been around the globe 3 times.

Then it happened. Got on a Valiant 42. Angels sang. I'm a sucker for the look and find that stern the sexiest rear end on any boat. Canoe stern in name only. Plenty of width and volume there. Just no swim step. Not important to me as I wanted a Monitor anyway and the Valiant stern accepts one perfectly. I find alongside dingy access superior anyway. Stern dinghy boarding sucks in anything other than dead flat. Loved the feel of the deep cockpit and appreciate the high bridgedeck. Amazing center entry queen layout.

Build quality so much better than other boats above. Top-notch hardware everywhere. Well labelled and perfectly ABYC compliant wiring. Similar plumbing. Excellent engine room and access to engine and generator. Well thought out storage. Lead keel 17 bolts. Crazy beefy mast step. Best stainless work and welding I've seen on any boat. Hard dodger. new rod rigging. Everything I opened and inspected got a "wow, nice". I could go on and on. Every tank removable relatively easily. Tankage is somewhat light at 90 fuel 100 water but it had a factory installed water maker in a specifically engineered place in the engine room.

Bought it. Paid a premium to the other boats listed. Did have a brand new Yanmar though.

All great boats discussed above. The Valiant just talks to me.

PM me if you want more opinion.

[robert sailor]

Originally Posted by Ween

OK first post. Hopefully I won't offend anyone right away.

I spent a year looking in this category. Caliber 40, Valiant 40/42, Passport 40, Tayana 42, all the normal suspects. Got on all of them which is why it took over a year.

Liked the passport layout but the 2 I looked at to buy had the normal passport issues, one with the weak knees (they modified Perry's design and moved bulkheads so needed knees that they didn't execute well) and one with the floor buckling where they cast iron scrap under the nav station that swelled with corrosion. Both had trashed quadrant brackets (steel? really?)

Tayana was really nice until I learned they had encapsulated steel ballasts (why?) and black iron tankage buried and expensive to replace. Good price though and many around CC and AC.

Caliber was OK but I agree with the comments on oversized and buried tankage, ridiculous nav station size/location, and smallish pullman berth. Also didn't like the deck layout. Sloped side decks with chainplates and stays right in the middle of the path. And finally, kind of generic sailboat look. Nothing special about its looks.

I visited a somewhat loved and used Valiant 40 and could see the attraction but there a few issues and too much to do after it had been around the globe 3 times.

Then it happened. Got on a Valiant 42. Angels sang. I'm a sucker for the look and find that stern the sexiest rear end on any boat. Canoe stern in name only. Plenty of width and volume there. Just no swim step. Not important to me as I wanted a Monitor anyway and the Valiant stern accepts one perfectly. I find alongside dingy access superior anyway. Stern dinghy boarding sucks in anything other than dead flat. Loved the feel of the deep cockpit and appreciate the high bridgedeck. Amazing center entry queen layout.

Build quality so much better than other boats above. Top-notch hardware everywhere. Well labelled and perfectly ABYC compliant wiring. Similar plumbing. Excellent engine room and access to engine and generator. Well thought out storage. Lead keel 17 bolts. Crazy beefy mast step. Best stainless work and welding I've seen on any boat. Hard dodger. new rod rigging. Everything I opened and inspected got a "wow, nice". I could go on and on. Every tank removable relatively easily. Tankage is somewhat light at 90 fuel 100 water but it had a factory installed water maker in a specifically engineered place in the engine room.

Bought it. Paid a premium to the other boats listed. Did have a brand new Yanmar though.

All great boats discussed above. The Valiant just talks to me.

PM me if you want more opinion.

You not supposed to have an opinion on a lady you slept with....just slightly bias wouldn’t you say?

[Craig Wiley]

I've owned a Valiant 42 (commissioned in 2002) since 2015 and just took a cruise on a a Caliber 38 from SF Bay to Channel Islands.

Advantages of Caliber -- Better cabin layout in regards to privacy between between the cabin owners (with the Pullman berth and separate head), the chart table is more comfortable. Hull also seems to move through the water better with less wind or motor speed. No stay sail, so easier genoa tacking. Cockpit a little more accommodating. More lazarette space. Bigger water tank (good if no water maker). Less expensive than Valiant.

Advantages of Valiant -- Better motion comfort, especially in following seas, better tracking. Stay sail (that's a BIG one for me). Better finish inside (lots of beautiful cherry in my case) and out (very high quality paint and gel coat, all still shiny after 22 years) and general build quality. Heavier-duty hull and hardware. Hard dodger. Bigger fuel tank. Heavier displacement (with proportionally increased sail area) means less effect from added cruising gear. More winches and clutches and spare lines running aloft. Roomier pullman berth. Generator (which I like, have heat pump heat and AC). Kitchen better for preparing meals underway. (Understandably this all means more $$$.)

Another difference is the anchor locker. The Caliber has a separate anchor locker with a large deck hatch, whereas with the Valiant the anchor chain goes down inside the hull at the bow. So with the Caliber the chain muck stays out of the hull, but if the anchor locker fill with water that can add instability. And because of the Caliber's anchor locker, there is no emergency escape or spinnaker dousing hatch in the bow of the boat if a dingy is stored on the deck. And get this; the pump-out port for the forward head is in the bottom of chain locker, which means first removing the chain and extra gear that collects in there (try that at the gas dock...)

I do feel that the Caliber is a capable and suitable cruising boat and better suiting for ocean passages than many production boats that are more suited for weekend trips and club racing. But I dearly missed my stable Valiant 42 when rollicking out on the mix of ocean swells and wind waves, and having the ability to deploy the stay sail with the genoa in light air, or instead of the genoa in heavy air, and the sheer beaty of the vessel inside and out.

Regarding aux power, the Caliber has a 44 hp Yanmar whereas my Valiant has a 40 hp Westerbeke (which BTW is a marinized Mitsubishi S4L2 -- you didn't hear that from me! LoL). I've been on a few boats with Yanmar, and I like the sound of them better than my Westerbeke. They just seem to run smoother and "with more confidence", where as my Westerbeke seems to be working hard as if running the town generator. I know my Westerbeke inside and out, have done a lot of work on it, but not familiar with Yanmar's, especially the different heat exchanger setup (which may be why I worry about it less? haha). The 44 hp Yanmar certainly pushes the Caliber through the water much easier than the 40 hp Westerbeke on the Valiant (But I am currently slightly under-propped). Less RPM for more speed. Likely hull shape and displacement helps that. I think the 50 hp Westerbeke that was offered as an option for the Valiant would be more suitable. Certainly would increase HP if/when repowering.

[jamhass]

Originally Posted by Scubaseas

Valiant may have blister issues. .

Not on the 42. All "Texas-built" Valiant (late 40s and all 42s) are built with isophalic (sic) resins.

I had a Texas V40. Great boat. Easy to single-hand, Can spin nearly in its own length when needed.

Yes, V-drive can be an issue, but access to most engine elements in fine.

LOTS of stowage.

Loved mine, only sold it because of my age and arthritis. Still miss her.