S2 8.6 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Edmunds gave the 8.6 a somewhat flat sheer, moderate forward and aft overhangs, and a reverse transom, with a raked stem forward. The hull and deck are hand-laid fiberglass, and while the hull itself is solid, all horizontal deck areas are cored with end-grain balsa. S2 joined the deck to the hull on an inward-facing flange that is both bonded and through-bolted, a method the builder used across its cruising line to keep the structure tight. Below the waterline the boat carries a spade rudder and was offered with either a deep fin drawing 4 feet 6 inches or a shoal-draft keel at 3 feet 11 inches; the cast-lead ballast is encapsulated within a keel cavity integral with the hull molding rather than bolted on externally.

Rig and Handling

The 8.6 is rigged as a high-aspect-ratio masthead sloop with a small mainsail and an overlapping headsail, a sail plan totaling 390 square feet at 100 percent. Jibs sheet to short tracks on the side decks, while larger headsails pass through snatchblocks clipped to the toerail. The mainsheet attaches at the end of the boom and leads to a traveler spanning the transom. What was novel in 1983 was that every sail control — halyards, reefing lines, outhaul, and cunningham — is led aft through clutches, letting the crew trim from the cockpit. Writing in Cruising World, Gregg Nestor found the boat relatively stiff, its helm balanced, and tracking well across most points of sail, comparing favorably with similar-size cruisers and racers.

Accommodations

Forward, the 8.6 provides a V-berth with a hanging locker and bureau just aft of it, and the head compartment sits to starboard with a single fiberglass unit forming the sink, vanity, medicine cabinet, toilet base, and sole, plus a shower. The main saloon has opposing settees — the starboard one extra long — and a bulkhead-mounted drop-leaf table, giving sleeping space for five when the quarter berth is counted. Across from the L-shaped galley, which is fitted with a sink, icebox, two-burner alcohol stove, trash compartment, and flip-up counter extension, lies a generous single quarter berth with sitting headroom. The galley itself is placed on the port side just forward of the companionway ladder.

Known Issues

Two structural vulnerabilities are worth noting from the boat's service history. One area of chronic leakage on the 8.6 is around the chainplates, a recurring weak point where deck penetration meets the balsa core. The second concerns the encapsulated ballast: in the event of a grounding hard enough to damage the keel's leading edge, water could enter the space between the fiberglass outer skin and the encapsulated lead, a path that can trap moisture against the ballast and is difficult to detect without inspection.

Refits and Ownership

The standard 20-horse Yanmar diesel moves the 8.6 well, and Cruising World noted that access for routine maintenance is excellent, a real advantage for an owner doing his own servicing. The 18-gallon aluminum fuel tank sits just aft of the stuffing box, and the boat carries 37 gallons of water. With all sail controls led aft and a tiller-controlled spade rudder, the cockpit layout remains practical for short-handed sailing decades after launch.

The Verdict

The S2 8.6 is a thoughtfully detailed small cruiser from the Edmunds partnership era at S2, blending a stiff, balanced hull with a cockpit-led rig that was ahead of its time. The balsa-cored deck and encapsulated ballast demand inspection discipline, but the boat's modest size, documented engine access, and comfortable five-berth layout make it a sensible used-classic candidate.

Pros