Design and Construction
The 7.9 is a stable and stiff fractionally rigged sloop with narrow entries forward and a broad stern, built of hand-laid fiberglass cored with end-grain balsa in both hull and deck. S2 had a high industry reputation for gelcoat and hand layup, and the gelcoat reads thicker than usual in production boats, letting minor scratches be rubbed out without penetrating the laminate. The deck and hull meet on an inward flange secured only with stainless screws through an extruded aluminum toerail rather than through-bolts, a method judged inferior to nuts and bolts and prone to leaking over time. All deck hardware is through-bolted, with stainless backing plates at the lifeline stanchions but only washers and nuts elsewhere. Balsa-cored decks and cabin top are vulnerable at hardware attachment points, especially on boats raced hard, so fittings must be maintained to keep water out of the core.
Keel, Ballast, and Hull Form
The vast majority of 7.9s carry a lead-ballasted daggerboard, though a limited fixed-keel version was built with increased keel weight and no internal ballast at 4,050 pounds versus the standard 4,250. Nearly a third of the 1,750 pounds of ballast sits in the board, the rest glassed inside the hull. The daggerboard retracts flush for trailer launching and lets the boat float in just 13 inches of water, while fully down it forms a 5-foot hydrodynamically efficient keel. A strong weldment surrounds the trunk opening to limit grounding damage, and the board tucks into a V-crotch when lowered but bangs loosely when raised on the starboard secondary winch. It cannot be pinned down, an obvious vulnerability in heavy going, though the boat has passed the MORC self-righting test with the board fully raised. A foam-cored transom-hung rudder pivots for trailering and carries neutral buoyancy.
Rig and Handling
The fractional rig from Offshore Spars uses swept-back spreaders so the upper shrouds act as backstays, while the actual backstay mainly bends the untapered, heavy, easily bendable mast to shape the main. Inboard chainplates carry upper and lower shrouds, but the port plate has a 2-foot unsupported free span that works under load and commonly leaks. The 7.9 is best sailed flat and will round up when overpowered, with owners noting she wipes out in heavy puffs when beating. With a PHRF of 168 she matches a J/24, and the four class sails—main, 155% genoa, 105% jib, and spinnaker—drive exhilarating performance. Oversize primary winches and a mid-cockpit traveler that doubles as a shin ravager complete the deck plan.
Accommodations
Below, a fiberglass floorpan forms berths, floor, and galley, with carpeting over the hull. Headroom runs about 5 feet 4 inches, so most adults stoop. The forward V-berth sleeps two at anchor, and long wide quarterberths lie aft, while the daggerboard trunk discreetly forms one wall of the cramped head where a Porta Potti leaves knees through the curtain. The galley is minimal—shallow sink, small icebox, tiny counter—and ventilation is nonexistent unless opening ports were optioned. The nearly eight-foot cockpit daysails six and dockside-drinks eight, a clear strength.
Known Issues
Beyond the deck joint and port chainplate leaks, Practical Sailor found several owners reporting cockpit lockers leak in an otherwise dry boat, and the balsa core demands vigilant fitting maintenance. One owner blew up the secondary winch raising the board; another called the #16 inadequate for a woman or small man. Fuel shutoff and filter sit through a port quarterberth inspection port, awkward to reach, though engine access is otherwise open.
The Verdict
The S2 7.9 is a thoughtfully engineered small racer-cruiser that punches above its length with a retracting lead board, stiff fractional rig, and a cockpit built for company. Its balsa construction and clever trunk detail show careful design, but the screw-only deck joint, working port chainplate, and minimal belowdecks air temper the picture.
Pros
- Retractable lead daggerboard gives 13-inch shoal draft and a 5-foot efficient keel
- Stiff, stable fractional rig with oversize winches and strong sailing performance (PHRF 168)
- Roomy cockpit and genuinely usable berths for weekend cruising
Cons
- Deck-to-hull joint screws only, prone to leaks and recurring attention
- Port chainplate free span works and leaks; daggerboard cannot be pinned down
- Minimal galley, no ventilation below, cramped head, 9-foot beam needs wide-load permits
