Design and Construction
The hull has a raked stem and plumb transom, giving it a clean, modern cruiser profile for its era. Below the waterline are a fixed fin keel and a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller.
S2 built the boat predominantly from balsa-cored AME 4000 resin fiberglass with wood trim. This construction reflected the marque’s mid-1980s move toward modified epoxy resin for greater strength and resistance to osmosis.
The lead-ballasted hull displaces 5,000 pounds and has a 9-foot-2-inch beam. Its ballast-to-displacement ratio is 40 percent, while its capsize screening value of 2.16 places it firmly in the coastal-cruiser camp rather than the bluewater category. With a waterline length of 23 feet 3 inches, the S2 27 has a hull speed of roughly 6.5 knots.
Rig and Handling
The S2 27 carries a Bermuda-rigged masthead sloop sail plan, a straightforward arrangement for a small crew. Its 350-square-foot sail area produces a sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 19—modest but workable for a 5,000-pound cruiser. A symmetrical spinnaker may be added for offwind sailing, broadening the boat’s range without complicating the standard rig.
An inboard engine assists with docking and maneuvering. That takes some of the burden out of close-quarters work, where the tiller-steered, transom-hung rudder requires attention.
Accommodations
The S2 27 sleeps four. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, while the main cabin has an L-shaped settee and a straight settee. For a compact cruiser, that gives a couple useful flexibility when sailing with guests.
Just forward of the companionway ladder on the port side, the U-shaped galley includes a two-burner stove, an ice box, and a sink. It’s a compact but functional arrangement that keeps the cook sheltered while remaining connected to the cockpit. Opposite the galley, beside the companionway on the starboard side, is the head. This location simplifies the plumbing and keeps the wettest traffic path away from the sleeping areas.
Verdict
The S2 27 is a purpose-built small cruiser from a focused 1985–1987 S2 production run. It combines a practical four-berth interior and simple masthead-sloop rig with a lead-ballasted, fin-keel hull. Its balsa-cored AME 4000 resin fiberglass construction and tidy accommodations make it a sensible used-market entry for coastal sailing, though the tiller steering and modest sail plan favor relaxed cruising over spirited performance.
Pros
- Balsa-cored AME 4000 resin fiberglass construction for strength and blister resistance
- Four-berth layout with a separate V-berth and two settees
- U-shaped galley and companionway-adjacent head create a practical belowdecks flow
- Inboard engine for docking and maneuvering
- Optional symmetrical spinnaker for downwind sailing
Cons
- Only 85 boats were built during the short 1985–1987 production run, limiting availability
- Tiller-steered, transom-hung rudder requires active handling in close quarters
- Modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio favors cruising over speed
