Design and Construction
The 6.7 is a recreational keelboat built predominantly of fiberglass, with a raked stem and a plumb transom. S2 Yachts constructed its racing and Grand Slam models, including the 6.7, with balsa-cored hulls and balsa-cored decks to maximize stiffness and reduce weight, a step apart from the solid-fiberglass cruising hulls elsewhere in the range. The boat's modest scale — 22 feet overall, 8-foot beam, 2,200 pounds displacement with 770 pounds of lead ballast — and its 35 percent ballast-displacement ratio mark it as a light, high-performance hull rather than a pocket cruiser. A lifting keel or fixed fin keel was offered, and the retracted keel allows operation in shallow water, beaching, or ground transport on a trailer.
Rig and Handling
The S2 6.7 carries a fractional sloop rig with a tall rig and fractional foretriangle that period testers said would power the light hull well in all airs. A transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller keeps the steering simple and direct. Underwater, the retractable keel and rudder make her easily trailerable and capable of skimming right up to a beach; with the lifting keel in the up position, owners report the hull has practically nothing below the waterline, making launching and retrieving on a trailer a comparatively easy job. The design earned a PHRF racing average handicap of 205, consistent with its intent as a buoy-racer that could still manage a weekend cruise. For downwind work, the boat may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker.
Accommodations
Below, the S2 6.7 sleeps four. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, with two straight settee berths in the main cabin. The galley sits on the port side just aft of the bow cabin, and the head is tucked in the bow cabin under the V-berth — a compact but complete arrangement for a 22-foot trailerable. The layout reflects the dual-purpose brief: enough to carry a couple for a weekend, yet uncluttered enough that the boat remains quick around the marks.
Known Issues
The heavy lifting keel and its attendant winch is bound to cause problems sooner or later, just by the nature of the beast, according to owner reports. Buyers and owners should treat the lifting-keel mechanism and its winch as a wear item demanding regular attention rather than a set-and-forget system.
The Verdict
The S2 6.7 is a focused little racer-cruiser that trades interior volume for trailering ease and light-air performance. Its balsa-cored hull and deck, tall fractional rig, and retractable appendages make it a genuine dual-purpose design from the early 1980s performance fleet, best suited to sailors who want one boat for buoy racing and the occasional beachable weekend escape.
Pros
- Light, stiff balsa-cored construction from the S2 Grand Slam racing line
- Tall fractional rig powers the light hull well across the wind range
- Retractable keel and rudder enable beaching, shallow-water use, and easy trailering
- Genuine four-berth accommodation in a 22-foot trailerable
Cons
- Lifting keel and its winch are inherently trouble-prone over time
- Minimal below-waterline profile with keel up leaves little margin for shoal mishaps
- Small scale limits comfort for anything beyond a couple's weekend cruise
