A good example of this classic Dick Newick design, the Val 31 is an easy and rewarding boat to sail and guaranteed to make you smile. Dick Newick famously commented. “I can give you 20 knots and a snug place to eat and sleep, but I can’t give you luxury and performance and low cost at the same time; nobody can”. The Val 31 is a well proven design with an enviable track record for quick and safe ocean crossing.
A good example of this classic Dick Newick design, the Val 31 is an easy and rewarding boat to sail and guaranteed to make you smile. Dick Newick famously commented. “I can give you 20 knots and a snug place to eat and sleep, but I can’t give you luxury and performance and low cost at the same time; nobody can”. The Val 31 is a well proven design with an enviable track record for quick and safe ocean crossing. The interior layout is perfectly comfortable for the singlehander with an additional crew berth forward, though entirely unsuitable for a family over a wet weekend! All sail handling can be done from the safety of the cockpit and a lot of thought has been given to the ergonomics of handling the sheets and halyards. The cockpit is deep and safe and inspires great confidence in bad weather offshore.
Viewing by appointment through our Suffolk Office 01473 659 681.
Accommodation
The accommodation offers two berths in two cabins. In the aft cabin, there is a comfortable single berth with marine toilet under. There is a removable chart table and full navigational instrumentation. A small galley comprises a sink with manually pumped water supply and a small gas hob. 50 litre freshwater capacity in two jerrycans. There is stowage space under the berth and also under the cockpit, together with shelving and other stowage above the berth. There is access to the forward cabin from either the cockpit or foredeck. There is a single berth forward with stowage under. Stowage in the forecabin under the cockpit for fenders and warps.
Mechanical Systems
Located on a lifting bracket to port, Marine 6hp single cylinder outboard engine (new 2013). Hand start. Remote 5 gallon fuel tank. Forward and reverse gears. The engine has been fully serviced from new. Maximum speed under power 6 knots. Cruising speed 4 knots. Range under power is about 80 miles. Running time to date approximately 50 hours. Annually winterised and serviced.
Electrical Systems
- 12 volt 120 amp hour battery (2015)
- Solar panel
- Solar panel regulator
- 12 volt fluorescent lighting in both cabins
- LED back-up lighting
- 12 volt switch panel
- Battery monitor
Spars & Sails
Fractionally rigged sloop. Anodised aluminium mast and boom. The mast is rotatable for added performance, though kept in a fixed position by the present owner. Stainless steel standing rigging (2014). Terylene running rigging (renewed as required). Slab reefing fully battened mainsail (3 x reefs) with Harken cars (2010). Harken headsail furling system (2014). Two Harken 35.2 self tailing sheet winches (2010). Harken 35.2 self tailing halyard winch (2015). Harken mainsheet system (2014). All sail handling is done from the safety of the deep cockpit and has been ergonomically designed for ease of use. There are running backstays for improved windward performance, but these are not necessary for the integrity and safety of the rig.
- Mainsail - Ullman - 2010 - good
- Furling genoa - Ullman - 2010 - good
- No 4 furling jib - good
- Spinnaker - good
Deck Equipment
- Stainless steel pulpit with guardwires and netting
- Anchor with chain and warp
- Large mooring cleat forward with fairleads port and starboard
- Trampolines port and starboard
- Sail cover
- Boathook
- Liferaft cradle
- Various warps and fenders
Navigation Equipment
- Plastimo steering compass (2015)
- Nasa Clipper Duet depth, boatspeed and log (2013)
- Nasa Clipper windspeed and direction (2013)
- Nasa Clipper closehauled repeater (2013)
- Nasa Clipper Navtex
- Nasa SSB receiver
- Garmin 556 chart plotter
- Garmin GP72 GPS
- Standard Horizon DSC VHF radio
- Simrad TP 32 autopilot
- Furuno radar
- Echomax radar target enhancer
- Nasa Clipper AIS receiver
- Prosser barometer
- Masthead (LED tricolour) and deck level navigation lights
- Windex
Safety Equipment
- Manual bilge pump
- Deck light
Construction
Built in 1982 by Daffy Duck Marine to a design by Dick Newick. White painted GRP hull and amas with style stripes. White GRP superstructure with grey painted non-slip to deck. The hull, superstructure, beams and amas are single skin GRP with Kevlar reinforcement. There is a watertight bulkhead under the cockpit separating the forward and aft cabins, and another watertight bulkhead forward The cockpit seating and seat backs are a later addition and are built in foam sandwich. All interior woodwork was removed by the present owner and replaced with lightweight carbon/foam sandwich panelling. The beams and amas are demountable to allow road transportation or by shipping container (mast length is 39ft). Centre self draining cockpit. Lifting skeg hung rudder. Tiller steering. Lifting centreboard. The hulls were epoxied in 2010 as a preventative measure. New chainplates fitted 2014. 2012 survey.
Additional Comments
Having bought her in 2012, the owner refitted Aerodrama with a new interior, full electronics package, new Harken headsail furling and Harken mainsheet system. In particular, the cockpit has been optimised for easy sail handling and comfortable sailing. He has cruised the East Coast, South Coast, West Country and Southern Ireland, mostly singlehanded, and she has proved to be a capable, seaworthy and fast boat. Top speed this year was 18 knots with the boat fully loaded for a two week trip to Ireland. In light trim, 20 knots is achievable in the right conditions. The designer, the late Dick Newick, was a master at his craft and his Val 31 design has proved to be fast and seaworthy, with several OSTAR races completed safely despite appalling conditions.
