With an exemplary marine behavior, the semi-rigid is the perfect tool for ballad and coastal cruising. It offers comfort and safety at sea. The ideal boat for family and friends.
I remember a sea trip in the south of Corsica one summer that could have gone wrong. We left in the morning with all our family and friends. The sea is beautiful. No wind. All the crew in shorts, T-shirt. After a beautiful day of frolicking on the splendid beaches, lazing between the rocks, swimming, enjoying the sun and the landscape. But alas, everything has an end and we have to think about going back. With the afternoon, the breeze returned. And it is with 20 knots of wind coming from the open sea and a strong chop that we had to come back to the starting point. A trying navigation with a soaked crew that started to be cold, the children complained, the adults gritted their teeth. The pleasure is far away... At this moment, I would have liked to have a semi-rigid and especially a Valliant 580 Classic.
Indeed, the polyester hull with its marked V shape goes well in the waves. The two large diameter floats at the rear ensure perfect stability, whatever the speed. The passage in the sea is really comfortable.
In addition, my passengers could enjoy the navigation in comfort. Indeed, the front of the boat is equipped with a sunbathing area. The front of the console has a seat. The console is also designed for "real" navigation with an ideal standing position (also called leaning post). There is enough circulation on each side of the console for a passenger to stand upright while sailing.
With the forward position of the console, the rear space is still large enough to offer a nice circulation and to have a large rear seat. For 2 to 3 people. In addition, this bench seat becomes a sunbathing area when anchored. The access to the water is done thanks to polyester sidewalks (which avoids walking on the stern). A bathing platform on the port side receives the bathing ladder.
In terms of storage, this model offers a deep front trunk to accommodate upholstery and extra bags.
This boat is powered by a 115 HP Mercury outboard. It gets out of the water quickly and offers a nice stabilized speed. Not to mention the reasonable fuel consumption! With a maximum speed of 33 knots (5800 rpm), the engine remains economical thanks to its large displacement. It finds a cruising speed of about 20 knots at 4000 rpm.
And for the look, Valiant offers a "Limited Edition" version with a finish that stands out in the dark gray PVC stern fabrics and gray beige upholstery. To increase the level of comfort, this boat receives options such as sunbathing extensions, table, rear roll bar, sun cover, ski pole...
