S2 9.2 A Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The aft-cockpit S2 9.2 A runs a conventional plan: a V-berth that is a bit short for taller crews, a large head and hanging locker, a large dinette settee with an opposite settee, and an L-shaped galley with a chart area and quarter berth opposite. Stowage is adequate under the berths and decent in the lazarettes, and the aft cockpit gives generous seating with well-cushioned benches and good visibility. The fabric hull liner is a neutral polypropylene treated to resist mildew, and the rest of the interior is teak veneer plywood, Formica, and solid teak trim with good workmanship. The center-cockpit S2 9.2 C is also seen; it moves the main cabin forward, tucks the head aft under the cockpit, and gains a roomy aft double but loses virtually all outside storage and adds a considerable step up to the helm.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

A bimini is commonly fitted, and a chartplotter is often seen; heating appears as a sometimes-or-owner upgrade rather than standard period gear. The standard engine on most is a Yanmar 2GM diesel at 12 hp, though through 1984 you may find 12- or 15-hp Yanmars or 12-hp Volvos, with a Yanmar 23 optional in 1985, and a few 1977/1978 boats carried an Atomic 4 gas engine. The boat came with a deck-stepped Kenyon spar and North sails, later Hall or Offshore spars, and a tested example showed internal halyards, reef lines and outhaul, a Harken traveler, Lewmar #8 halyard winches, and Lewmar #30 two-speed jib winches. Notably, not one equipment list examined for used S2 9.2s carried a spinnaker or spinnaker gear, so any downwind kit is an owner addition.

What to Inspect

Engine accessibility varies dramatically between aft and center cockpit models, and in the center-cockpit boat many owners complained about the inaccessibility of one side of the engine and the difficulty of getting at the dipstick. A number of owners report that the boat is underpowered with the Yanmar 12 and 15 and the Volvo 12, and a few boats were apparently sold with raw-water cooling rather than a heat exchanger—confirm cooling type and power on any candidate. Tenderness is inherent: the 4,000-lb ballast is 41 percent of displacement yet contributes to the boat's reputation for tenderness, and several owners reported that you need to reduce sail fairly early to keep the boat on its feet and sailing well.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

These boats are found in the United States. For a buyer, the checklist is short and source-grounded: confirm the engine is diesel and heat-exchanger cooled unless an early gas or raw-water example is acceptable; prefer the aft-cockpit A if outside stowage and engine access matter; check the fabric liner for the expected mildew resistance rather than damage; verify rigging matches the Kenyon-or-later spar and North-or-later sail spec; and sail her with enough canvas discipline to judge the tender heel firsthand.