S2 8.6 Buyer's Guide
Arthur Edmunds drew this 28-foot S2 cruiser, which the Michigan builder produced from 1983 through 1987 with 150 completed before the model left the line. On the used market it presents as a small coastal boat with a tiller-steered spade rudder, a cockpit-led rig, and a five-berth interior — but the details that matter to a buyer sit in the deck core, the chainplates, and the encapsulated keel.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every 8.6 shares the same Edmunds hull: a V-berth forward with hanging locker and bureau, a starboard-side head with shower, and an L-shaped port galley just forward of the companionway. The saloon carries opposing settees with an extra-long starboard berth and a drop-leaf table, while a generous quarter berth with sitting headroom lies across from the galley. Both deep-fin (4'6") and shoal-draft (3'11") keel versions were offered, so a buyer should confirm which underwater profile a specific hull carries before judging mooring suitability.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
A dodger is commonly fitted on boats in this class, useful for extending cockpit shelter on a 28-footer with a transom traveler. Beyond that, the period equipment centers on the original L-shaped galley with its two-burner alcohol stove and icebox, and the standard 20-horse Yanmar diesel with excellent maintenance access. Buyers should verify that the engine remains the original make and that the 18-gallon aluminum tank just aft of the stuffing box is sound, since fuel-system corrosion is a quiet cost on older vessels.
What to Inspect
Two documented weaknesses deserve a careful look at any viewing. Chronic leakage around the chainplates is a known pattern on the 8.6; check the deck where the shrouds and stays meet the balsa-cored top, looking for stained fiberglass, soft spots underfoot, or rust trails that signal water has entered the core. The second concern is the encapsulated lead ballast: after a hard grounding that damages the keel's leading edge, water can get between the outer skin and the ballast. Inspect the keel leading edge for repaired gelcoat cracks or filler, and tap the lower hull sounding for hollow areas that suggest trapped moisture behind the glass.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. Before committing, a shopper should:
- Confirm deep or shoal keel and measure actual draft
- Probe chainplate decks for core softness or staining
- Inspect keel leading edge for grounding repair signs
- Sound the encapsulated-ballast cavity for water ingress
- Verify Yanmar 20-hp access and aluminum tank condition
- Check dodger frame for deck leaks at attachment points
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the S2 8.6. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | 1 | $8,500 | — |
Where they're listed
S2 8.6 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $8,500 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
4 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dehler Duetta 86 | 28.21' | $ 13,766 | 14 | 6 |
| S2 8.5 | 28' | $ 12,000 | 13 | 7 |
| Feeling 286 | 27.07' | $ 20,650 | 11 | 0 |
| S2 8.6You are here | — | $ 8,500 | 1 | 0 |