Edmunds, S2’s in-house designer, gave the 9.2 short overhangs, a relatively flat sheer, a long fin keel, and a spade rudder carried on a skeg. The boat measures 29.92 feet overall, with a 25-foot waterline. Displacement is 9,800 pounds, including 4,000 pounds of internal lead ballast. Its 41 percent ballast ratio places it squarely in the cruiser-racer middle ground.
Design and Construction
The 9.2 has a conservative, hand-laid fiberglass hull, with solid glass below the waterline and a balsa-cored deck. Hull and deck meet at a conventional inward-turning flange protected by an aluminum toerail.
S2 was among the first sailboat builders to line interiors with fabric. The 9.2 has a neutral polypropylene hull liner treated to resist mildew; test sailors found that it holds up amazingly well and absorbs virtually no water. Above the liner, the interior uses teak-veneer plywood, Formica, and solid teak trim, all assembled with good workmanship.
The deck layout shows proper attention to anchor wells, bow fittings, and halyard runs. The side decks leading forward are somewhat narrow, however, and the center-cockpit arrangement requires a considerable step up from the companionway.
Rig and Handling
The 9.2 C is a masthead sloop with 468 square feet of sail area: 260 square feet forward and 208 square feet aft. The deck-stepped spar is by Kenyon. North sails were standard, with Hall or Offshore sails fitted later.
With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.41 and a displacement-length ratio of 280, the boat balances main and jib well and is easy to sail. Testers found its performance respectable on most points. It moves very well when close reaching or broad reaching, though it’s a little sluggish when running.
In most regions, the 9.2 carries a PHRF rating of 180; the shoal-keel version is rated six seconds slower. The shoal-draft option reduces draft from 4 feet 11 inches to 3 feet 11 inches. Paired with worn sails during one test, the shoal-draft boat would not go to weather decently.
Stability and Performance Character
The 4,000 pounds of ballast provides adequate stability, but the boat has a reputation for tenderness. Testers aboard a shoal-draft 9.2 were surprised by its angle of heel, and other owners in the survey agreed that the shoal model heels fairly easily. A number also considered the deeper-draft boat tender.
Several owners reported that sail must be reduced fairly early to keep the boat on its feet and sailing well. A capsize screening figure of 1.92 and a comfort ratio of 25.77 frame a boat that is moderate in motion, but not a stiff one.
Accommodations and Storage
The interior layout was the 9.2’s strongest selling point. In the center-cockpit model, the main cabin sits farther forward. The head is aft, near and partly beneath the cockpit, while the galley lies opposite and extends aft along the port side, slipping below the cockpit.
The aft cabin is roomy, with an athwartship double berth and good locker space. Headroom is 6.25 feet. The main drawback is outside storage: the center-cockpit arrangement sacrifices virtually all of it.
The aft-cockpit sister has generous seating, well-cushioned benches, good all-around visibility, a large dinette and settee, and decent lazarette stowage. Its V-berth, however, is a little short for taller crew.
Engine and Systems
Standard power is a 12-horsepower Yanmar 2GM diesel. A few 1977–78 boats left with Atomic 4 gasoline engines, while diesels became standard after 1979. Through 1984, engine choices included 12- or 15-hp Yanmars and 12-hp Volvos; a Yanmar 23 became optional in 1985. A few boats had raw-water cooling rather than a heat exchanger.
A number of owners found the boat underpowered with the 12- and 15-hp Yanmars and the 12-hp Volvo. The Yanmar 15 in one test boat pushed it adequately in calm water, but the owner said it couldn’t buck a head sea.
Engine access differs dramatically between the aft- and center-cockpit versions. In the center-cockpit 9.2, many owners complained that one side of the engine was hard to reach and the dipstick was awkward to get at.
Practical Drawbacks
The narrow side decks and the step up into the center cockpit are practical annoyances rather than faults. More significant compromises include the center-cockpit model’s limited engine access and near-total lack of outside storage.
The Verdict
The S2 9.2 C is a thoughtfully arranged small center-cockpit cruiser, with an interior that offers more room than its length might suggest and a hull built to a conservative, honest standard. It’s tender and modestly powered, and the center-cockpit engine placement is a genuine servicing compromise. Even so, its livability and clean deck execution make it a sensible used-cruiser candidate for couples sailing sheltered waters who are prepared to watch the breeze.
Pros
- Roomy aft cabin with an athwartship double berth and good lockers
- Mildew-resistant fabric hull liner that absorbs virtually no water
- Well-executed deck with good anchor and halyard details
- Easy balance under its masthead-sloop rig
Cons
- Tender and requires early sail reduction
- One side of the engine is difficult to access in the center-cockpit model, and the dipstick is awkward to reach
- Virtually no outside storage in the center-cockpit layout
- Underpowered with the smaller diesel options
