S2 6.7 Buyer's Guide
The S2 6.7 Grand Slam is a 22-foot trailerable racer-cruiser built by S2 Yachts between 1980 and 1983, with 142 lifting-keel examples and 18 fixed-keel models completed prior to its successor the S2 6.9 appearing in 1983. On the used market it appeals to sailors wanting a light, beachable weekender that can still hold its own around the buoys. Because the boat is out of production, any purchase is a study in how well a 1980s performance trailerable has been kept.
Layouts on the Used Market
Two underwater configurations circulate in private and brokerage listings: the lifting-keel version and the fixed-fin-keel version. The lifting keel is the more numerous and the more practical for trailering, since with the keel raised the hull presents practically nothing below the waterline, making launch and retrieval a comparatively easy job. The fixed-keel models trade that beaching convenience for a permanent fin and somewhat simpler systems. Below decks both share a four-berth layout — a bow V-berth, two main-cabin settees, a port-side galley just aft of the bow, and a head tucked under the V-berth.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most 6.7s on the market will have been fitted with a symmetrical spinnaker for downwind racing, a natural upgrade given the fractional sloop rig. Trailerability is the defining ownership theme, so a suitably rated trailer and a well-maintained keel winch are the consequential items rather than creature comforts. Beyond the spinnaker and the lifting-keel machinery, buyers should expect modest period gear and judge any boat on the condition of its core systems rather than a long equipment list.
What to Inspect
The heavy lifting keel and its attendant winch is bound to cause problems sooner or later, by the nature of the mechanism — so the keel trunk, pivot hardware, and winch operation deserve close scrutiny on any lifting-keel example. On balsa-cored hulls and decks, the usual moisture-intrusion checks at through-hulls and deck joints apply, though the defining used-boat risk remains the retractable appendage and its controls.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The S2 6.7 is a niche early-1980s performance trailerable rather than a common club racer, so patience may be needed to find a sound example. When one appears, prioritize a lifting-keel boat with a sound winch and trunk, a dry balsa core, and a matching trailer.
- Confirm keel winch and pivot hardware move freely with no structural cracking at the trunk
- Check deck and hull core for moisture at fastenings and through-hulls
- Verify the trailer is rated for the 2,200-pound displacement and keel-up profile
- Inspect the fractional rig and spinnaker gear if downwind racing is intended