Design and Construction
The S2 7.0 is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, carrying a raked stem and a slightly angled transom. Her configuration pairs a fixed stub keel with a retractable centerboard, and a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller. That retractable centerboard allows operation in shallow water or ground transportation on a trailer, a defining trait for a 23-footer meant to cruise and yet be hauled home. 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, but the S2 7.0 itself remains a distinct Edmunds design of its brief three-year run.
Rig and Handling
She carries a masthead sloop rig with a 29-foot foretriangle height and a 24-foot mainsail luff, totaling just under 244 square feet of sail area. The centerboard gives a draft of 4.67 feet extended and 2.16 feet retracted, letting her skim into anchorages a fixed-keel boat her size could not. A small 3 to 6 hp outboard is the normal auxiliary for docking and maneuvering. Under sail, her PHRF average handicap of 261 is high, and testers were clear she is definitely a cruiser, not a racer, with that high handicap confirming her place at the gentle end of the performance spectrum rather than the fleet.
Accommodations
Below, the S2 7.0 sleeps four: a double V-berth forward and two straight settee berths in the main cabin. The galley sits to starboard at the companionway ladder with an ice box and sink, while the enclosed head is opposite to port. Cabin headroom is 60 inches, which test sailors found quite good for a 22-footer. The domed cabin structure and the accommodation layout together drew a mixed reaction, as one review allowed her accommodation design and domed cabin may not appeal to everybody, but the volume achieved in a 23-foot hull is pragmatic for short cruises.
The 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 belowdecks room. Her short production life makes her a comparatively rare find, but for a couple or small family seeking an easily stored pocket cruiser, she answers the brief.
Pros
- Retractable centerboard enables shallow anchoring and trailering
- Good headroom and four-berth layout for a 23-foot boat
- Straightforward fiberglass-and-wood construction with tiller steering
Cons
- High PHRF confirms sluggish racing potential
- Domed cabin and interior layout polarize buyers
- Only 140 built over a three-year run, limiting choice
