Valiant No Longer Manufacturing

[bob perry]

The V 40/42 was a 38 year old design. That's not a bad run.

[READY2GO]

You did good Bob!

[speciald@ocens.]

Trying to build a price-favorable boat in the US is a losing enterprise. Very few are left. Even Hinkley has given up; Hunter and Catalina are struggleing, Tartan is in trouble. Valiant was a small niche boat as is Pacific Seacraft. Unless the economy turns around, all will go under. (Moderator - this is not a political statement it is the truth)

[Mimsy]

Well I for one am sad. I love Valiants. It was indeed, a very good run Bob. Well done.

[ronbo1]

I don't guess they will be selling the molds soon.
Who knows, in the next few months, if the economy starts improving, they may get a few buyers interested in a new Valiant.

[capnorv]

A good boat, that will be sorely missed. I was in Port Townsend about 3 years ago, helped land a new 42 in front of me, owner beaming. If it wasn't night I would have ducked back out to sea, she sure outshined my 30 year old. Definitely a work of art Mr Perry! You should be proud!

[arisatx]

Originally Posted by bob perry

The V 40/42 was a 38 year old design. That's not a bad run.

Maestro:

We just finished up Hull #186 in November 2010.

A venerable design, yes.

A "shoebox on a banana" - but with a sweet onion.

Hard to believe #186 is the last one (for now).

[Blue Stocking]

The venerable 40/42 are recognised as long-legged ocean travellers, with new sales probably going to folks intending to sail to far-flung locations.
I wonder how many of these potential buyers have second thoughts with the current publicity given to so many troubled destinations which have traditionally been popular stops.

Thank you Bob, for a great boat. sad to see them go.

[bob perry]

It has been my pleasure. Thank you.

[goboatingnow]

Look at Moody, they still retained great classic style but kept bang up to date.

who of course, also effectively went under and the name was bought by Hanse.


In my alternative view, the economies of scale of the big 4, simply mean they can produce a "good" boat capable of crossing oceans etc at a price point that smaller bespoke builders simply cant get near. The quailty gap between the two types has narrowed and for small high-quality companies, theres nowhere else to go in their niche, Pricing is already as high as the market can bear, theres not much more innovation you can do to tempt buyers and this segment is in trouble everywhere, HR, Najaid, Moody,etc etc.

Dave

[Tortuga's Lie]

Then there's the fact that this is a buyer's market where there's a glut of quality used boats on the market for a fraction of new....does it make sense to buy new unless you have REALLY deep pockets? How can manufacturers make it?

[anotherT34C]

I'm sure that Valiant's fiercest competitor is its own used boat fleet. I remember reading an article in GOB about a decade ago about Hinckley. They claimed that Hinckley sold the new B40 at cost, but by positioning themselves as the premier Hinckley used boat broker, they now manage to get 10% on virtually every resale, as long as the B40's float... Which will likely be forever.

If true, its an awfully clever business model. I wonder if the Valiant fleet is simply too dispersed for something like that to work.

[SV.Maverick]

This may have been a long run but the factory in Texas had only Been producing 3-4 boats per year for a very long time. You might say they have been on life support but some one will probably buy the brand and try to sale them at a better price.