Design and Construction
The 8.0 B shares its hull with the earlier 8.0 A and the center-cockpit 8.0 C, all products of S2's in-house design partnership with Edmunds in the mid-1970s. At 26 feet overall with an 8-foot beam and a 4,600-pound displacement backed by 1,800 pounds of lead ballast, the boat reads larger inside than its length suggests. Construction is predominantly fiberglass with wood trim, a raked stem, and a slightly angled transom; later-year boats often carried balsa-cored decks over the solid glass hull. The fin-keel-and-spade-rudder configuration is paired with an internally mounted spade-type rudder controlled by tiller, giving a predictable coastal cruiser footprint rather than a stripped racer's.
Rig and Handling
The S2 8.0 B carries a masthead sloop (Bermuda) rig, with a standard I of 29.80 feet and J of 11.50 feet, and a mainsail luff near 26 feet. A tall-rig version was available with a mast about 1.65 feet taller for more sail area upwind. Keel choices ran from the standard 4-foot fin to a 2.50-foot shoal draft keel and even a keel-centerboard variant that drew 6 feet with the board down and 2.50 feet retracted, making the design adaptable to shallow lake shores or deeper coastal anchorage. Owners report easy single-handing and a stability that suits daysailing and light coastal adventures, and the boat's hull speed is a modest 6.2 knots.
Accommodations
Below, the 8.0 B was laid out for four to six berths with a double V-berth forward, a straight settee berth to port in the main cabin, and a sizable aft quarter berth also to port. The L-shaped galley sits to starboard at the companionway ladder with a two-burner stove, ice box, and sink, while the enclosed head is just aft of the bow cabin on the port side. Headroom is about 70 inches, and the wide beam gives the compact volume a sense of room that owners describe as a "big boat" feel despite the pocket-cruiser size.
Ownership Notes
A small inboard diesel, typically a Yanmar, was fitted for docking and maneuvering, with a saildrive offered as an option on some boats. The 8.0 B's sturdy build quality is repeatedly valued by owners, and its reliability as a trailerable pocket cruiser has kept the design in leisure use well after production ended.
The Verdict
The S2 8.0 B is a sensible Edmunds-designed cruiser that trades outright speed for volume, stability, and straightforward handling in a 26-foot trailerable package. Its multiple keel options and practical interior make it a versatile step up from a daysailer for a small family.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull with owner-valued sturdy construction
- Wide 8-foot beam yields roomy accommodations for the length
- Keel options including shoal and centerboard for varied waters
- Easy single-handing and stable pocket-cruiser behavior
Cons
- Modest 6.2-knot hull speed limits passage pace
- Later balsa-cored decks invite the usual core-inspection caution
