Design and Construction
Built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, the S2 7.0 has a raked stem and slightly angled transom. Her underwater configuration combines a fixed stub keel with a retractable centerboard. Steering is by tiller through a transom-hung rudder.
The retractable centerboard allows operation in shallow water or ground transportation on a trailer, a defining feature for a 23-footer intended both for cruising and hauling home. Draft is 4.67 feet with the board extended and 2.16 feet with it retracted. At 3,800 pounds displacement with 1,300 pounds of ballast, she is a substantial small cruiser.
The hull molds were later reused for the Sovereign 23 and Sovereign 24. The S2 7.0, however, remains a distinct Edmunds design from its brief three-year production run.
Rig and Handling
The S2 7.0 carries a masthead sloop rig, with a 29-foot foretriangle height and a 24-foot mainsail luff. Total sail area is just under 244 square feet. A small 3 to 6 hp outboard is the usual auxiliary for docking and maneuvering.
With the centerboard raised, she can skim into anchorages that a fixed-keel boat of similar size could not. Under sail, her average PHRF handicap is a high 261. Testers were clear that she is definitely a cruiser, not a racer; that handicap confirms her place at the gentle end of the performance spectrum rather than in the fleet.
Accommodations
Belowdecks, the S2 7.0 sleeps four, with a double V-berth forward and two straight settee berths in the main cabin. The galley is to starboard beside the companionway ladder and includes an ice box and sink. Opposite, to port, is an enclosed head.
Cabin headroom is 60 inches, which test sailors found quite good for a 22-footer. The domed cabin structure and accommodation layout drew a mixed response: one review noted that they may not appeal to everybody. Even so, the amount of interior volume achieved in a 23-foot hull is practical for short cruises.
Verdict
The S2 7.0 is a modest, honestly built small cruiser from S2’s first Edmunds era. She trades racing sparkle for trailerable, shallow-water freedom and a surprising amount of room below. Her short production life makes her comparatively rare, but she answers the brief for a couple or small family looking for an easily stored pocket cruiser.
Pros
- Retractable centerboard permits shallow-water anchoring and trailering
- Good headroom and a four-berth layout for a 23-foot boat
- Straightforward fiberglass-and-wood construction with tiller steering
Cons
- High PHRF handicap confirms limited racing potential
- Domed cabin and interior layout may not appeal to every buyer
- Only 140 were built during the three-year production run, limiting choice
