Design and Construction
The 7.3 is a solid-fiberglass monohull with wood trim, a raked stem, and a slightly reverse transom. S2 used solid-glass hulls for its cruising boats, and the 7.3 belongs firmly to that line rather than to the yard’s balsa-cored racing models.
Below the waterline, the standard boat carries a fixed fin keel. Graham & Schlageter drew an optional shoal-draft keel for sailors who needed a shallower-water alternative. An internally mounted spade rudder provides tiller steering.
The boat displaces 3,250 pounds, including 1,300 pounds of lead ballast, for a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 40 percent. Its waterline measures 18.5 feet, while the standard fin keel draws 4 feet—a manageable profile for coastal sailing.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The 7.3 has a straightforward Bermuda masthead sloop rig. Its 255-square-foot sail plan sits on a 31.67-foot mast, giving the boat enough canvas to move without overpowering a short-handed crew. The spade rudder and tiller provide direct control.
The old-fashioned keel design exposes considerable wetted surface. Period reviewers assumed this would slow the boat in light air compared with her comps, a tradeoff for the underbody’s simplicity. Her average PHRF handicap settled at 228, placing the 7.3 among modest-performance cruisers rather than all-out racing boats.
Accommodations
The 7.3 sleeps four. There’s a double V-berth in the bow cabin and two straight settee berths in the main saloon. The head is tucked into the port side of the bow cabin beneath the V-berth, a compact but conventional arrangement for a boat of this length.
The galley sits to port, abeam of the companionway ladder, and includes a single sink. In a 2010 review, Steve Henkel noted the good space below for a 24-footer. The settee-and-V-berth layout supports that assessment without pretending to offer more than weekender accommodations.
Systems, Options, and Ownership
The 7.3 uses an outboard motor rather than an inboard. This simplifies the engine space and keeps the bilge free of diesel systems. The tiller and spade-rudder arrangement also keeps the steering gear easy to service.
For shallow-water sailing, the optional Graham & Schlageter shoal-draft keel provides an alternative to the standard fin keel. With only 404 boats built and production ending in 1987, the class is small enough that each boat’s individual history matters more than broad fleet trends.
Known Issues
The only recorded criticism concerns performance. Reviewers worried that the keel’s exposed wetted surface would cause the boat to lose ground in light air. This is a design characteristic rather than a repair issue, so buyers should treat it as a note about sailing qualities rather than maintenance.
The Verdict
The S2 7.3 is a modest, clearly defined small cruiser from Arthur Edmunds’ years at S2. It combines solid-fiberglass construction, a simple outboard-and-tiller setup, and a belowdecks plan that uses its 24 feet efficiently. It isn’t a light-air flyer, but it is an honest pocket cruiser with a clear identity.
Pros
- Sleeps four in a compact, usable layout, with good space below for its length
- Solid-fiberglass hull
- Outboard power and tiller steering keep systems simple and serviceable
Cons
- The keel’s exposed wetted surface likely slows the boat in light air compared with similar boats
- A fleet of only 404 boats means limited brokerage choice and class support
