S2 8.6 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Period testers found the S2 8.6 stiff and well-mannered without being overbuilt. It displaces a modest 7,600 pounds on a 22-foot-6-inch waterline, with 3,000 pounds of encapsulated lead ballast and a ballast-to-displacement ratio of .39.

Design and Construction

The 8.6 has a somewhat flat sheer, a raked stem, moderate overhangs forward and aft, and a reverse transom. The hull and deck are hand-laid fiberglass. The hull is solid fiberglass, while all horizontal deck areas are cored with end-grain balsa.

S2 joined the deck to the hull along an inward-facing flange, both bonded and through-bolted. The builder used this method throughout its cruising line to keep the structure tight.

Below the waterline, the boat has a spade rudder and one of two keel options: a deep fin drawing 4 feet 6 inches or a shoal-draft keel drawing 3 feet 11 inches. Rather than being bolted on externally, the cast-lead ballast is encapsulated in a keel cavity integral to the hull molding.

Rig and Handling

The S2 8.6 carries a high-aspect-ratio masthead sloop rig, with a small mainsail and an overlapping headsail. Sail area is 390 square feet at 100 percent. Jibs sheet to short tracks on the side decks, while larger headsails lead through snatchblocks clipped to the toerail. The end-boom mainsheet runs to a traveler spanning the transom.

For 1983, the control layout was novel. Every sail control—including the halyards, reefing lines, outhaul, and cunningham—is led aft through clutches, allowing the crew to make adjustments from the cockpit.

Writing in Cruising World, Gregg Nestor found the boat relatively stiff, its helm balanced, and tracking well on most points of sail. The boat compared favorably with cruisers and racers of similar size.

Interior and Accommodations

The forward cabin contains a V-berth, with a hanging locker and bureau immediately aft. To starboard, the head has a single molded-fiberglass unit incorporating the sink, vanity, medicine cabinet, toilet base, and sole, as well as a shower.

In the main saloon, opposing settees flank a bulkhead-mounted drop-leaf table. The starboard settee is extra long. Including the quarter berth, the boat sleeps five.

The L-shaped galley is on the port side, just forward of the companionway ladder. It includes a sink, icebox, two-burner alcohol stove, trash compartment, and flip-up counter extension. Opposite the galley is a generous single quarter berth with sitting headroom.

Engine, Tanks, and Short-Handed Use

The standard 20-horse Yanmar diesel moves the 8.6 well. Cruising World also noted that access for routine maintenance is excellent, which is a practical advantage for owners who do their own servicing.

The 18-gallon aluminum fuel tank is mounted just aft of the stuffing box, and the boat carries 37 gallons of water. With a tiller-controlled spade rudder and all sail controls led aft, the cockpit remains practical for short-handed sailing decades after the boat’s launch.

Known Issues

Two structural vulnerabilities stand out in the S2 8.6’s service history. The first is chronic leakage around the chainplates, where the deck penetrations meet the balsa core. If these leaks persist, they can lead to hidden core problems.

The second concern involves the encapsulated ballast. A grounding severe enough to damage the keel’s leading edge could allow water into the space between the fiberglass outer skin and the enclosed lead. Moisture can then become trapped against the ballast, and the problem may be difficult to detect without inspection.

The Verdict

The S2 8.6 is a thoughtfully detailed small cruiser from S2’s Edmunds partnership era. It combines a stiff, balanced hull with a cockpit-led rig that was ahead of its time.

Its balsa-cored deck and encapsulated ballast call for disciplined inspection. Even so, the boat’s modest size, documented engine access, and comfortable five-berth interior make it a sensible used-classic candidate.

Pros