S2 8.0 B Buyer's Guide
The S2 8.0 B is the aft-cockpit cruiser in a 26-foot trailerable family from S2 Yachts, designed by Arthur Edmunds and built between 1976 and 1983 with 426 examples completed. On the used market it is the most common variant of the 8.0 series, sharing its hull with the rarer center-cockpit 8.0 C and the brief 8.0 A. A shopper is looking at a practical coastal or lake pocket cruiser with solid-glass construction and a surprisingly roomy interior.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every 8.0 B uses the same Edmunds hull as the 8.0 A and 8.0 C, but the B's aft cockpit distinguishes it from the C's center-cockpit deck and aft-cabin privacy arrangement. Below, used boats show a forward double V-berth, a port-side straight settee, and a port aft quarter berth, with an L-shaped starboard galley at the companionway and a head just aft of the bow cabin. Cabin headroom runs about 70 inches. Keel configuration is a key used-market differentiator: standard fin at 4 feet, optional shoal at 2.50 feet, or a keel-centerboard drawing 6 feet extended and 2.50 feet retracted.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most 8.0 B boats carry a small inboard diesel, typically a Yanmar, for docking and maneuvering, and a saildrive was a factory option worth confirming on any candidate. A tall-rig mast about 1.65 feet taller than standard was available and is a meaningful upgrade for upwind performance. Later boats often have balsa-cored decks rather than the earlier solid-glass tops, a point to verify when assessing structure. Otherwise the class is minimally equipped by modern standards, so buyer attention should center on rig, engine, and deck-core condition rather than factory gadgetry.
What to Inspect
The central used-market inspection point is the deck core: later-year 8.0 B models often have balsa-cored decks, so test for soft spots and moisture intrusion at fittings and chainplates. Confirm which keel is fitted and whether a centerboard trunk and pivot show wear or leakage if the board version is offered. Check the inboard installation and any optional saildrive seal, and verify the rudder stock and tiller linkage on the internally mounted spade rudder.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The 8.0 B is the most common and longest-produced variant of the S2 8 Meter family, so examples are regularly findable for a shopper wanting a trailerable cruiser. When viewing, run this short checklist:
- Confirm keel type and centerboard condition if fitted
- Test deck for balsa-core softening on later boats
- Verify inboard or saildrive sealing and operation
- Inspect spade rudder and tiller linkage
- Match rig height to sailing grounds (standard vs tall)