1981 S2 9.2 Sold Boat in Milwaukee, WI 53204 US

As its nomenclature suggests, S2 Yachts was one of those few American companies willing to commit to the metric system when the government said it would be a good thing to do. The 9.2 stands for 9.2 meters, as with the companys other boats (7.3, 7.9, 10.3, etc.). S2 stuck with the classification for a long time, only advertising the 9.2 as the S2 30 after it had been in production for years (not to be confused with the later S2 30 designed by Graham & Schlageter).

The boat overall is 29' 11'', the most common length of 30-footers in those days when one of the popular racing rules the Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC) required boats to be under 30 feet. The boat was built in two configurations, from 1977 to 1987. The 9.2C was a center-cockpit version, and the last one built was hull number 427. The 9.2A was the aft-cockpit version, and the last one built was hull number 520.

From talking to the company, it is unclear whether the hull numbers represent the actual number of boats built. In the 70s, it was not unusual for companies as part of their marketing strategy, to start a production run with hull number 10, or even hull number 100, so that a model would appear to be more popular or successful than it actually was. The people currently at S2 simply didn't know if that had been done, but we suspect the total of 947 hull numbers is more than the actual number of S2 9.2s built. Nonetheless, the 9.2 had a successful run.

The 9.2 was designed by Arthur Edmunds, who was S2's ?in-house designer. Beginning in 1981, S2 built a number of racing-oriented cruisers designed by the Chicago naval architects Scott Graham and Eric Schlageter, but all of the earlier cruising boats were done by Edmunds. Edmunds also contributed engineering and design detail to Graham & Schlageter's hull designs.

We would describe the 9.2 design?and all of Edmunds S2's as moderate and conventionally modern. The hull has short overhangs, a relatively flat sheer, a long fin keel, and spade rudder. The boats are reasonably attractive, and the aft-cockpit model has pleasing proportions. The center-cockpit model has a high, boxy superstructure whose profile is relieved by good contour moldings of the deckhouse, cockpit, and aft cabin.

One advantage of the conventional looks of the 9.2 is that it is not likely to go out of fashion?a plus for the boat holding its value. Though the rigs were identical on all versions, shallow-draft keels were a popular option; these reduced the draft from 4' 11''? to 3'11''. The deeper keel doesn't seem excessive for most waters and is our choice. The lead ballast is internal. S2 did a good job of embedding and sealing the lead in the keel cavity, so leaking should be minimal even in a hard grounding.

The hull is a conservative hand-laid laminate, and the deck is balsa-cored. S2 used a conventional inward-turning flange to attach the deck, with an aluminum toerail for protecting the joint. S2 is known for good glass work, particularly gelcoats, and almost all the used 9.2s that we have seen still are cosmetically good or recoverable with a good rubbing out.

Sailing Performance

Adequate would be a good way to describe the sailing performance of the 9.2. The boat came with a deck-stepped Kenyon spar and North sails as standard, later with Hall or Offshore spars. The rigging and other sailing hardware was good enough in quality that little re-rigging or upgrading is likely to be needed.

The used 9.2 we examined thoroughly, for example, had internal halyards, reef lines and outhaul, a good Harken mainsheet traveler, Lewmar #8 halyard winches, and two-speed Lewmar #30s for the jib sheets. On the down-side, every equipment list of used S2s we looked at listed the original North sails, with an occasional newer furling genoa. One disadvantage of a late model boat with good gear is that the owner is less likely to upgrade before he sells it, so the second owner probably will be facing the purchase of new sails.

When we sailed a shoal-draft 9.2, our initial reaction was surprise at its tenderness. Other owners in our survey agree that the shoal-draft model heels fairly easily, and a number thought that even the deeper draft model was tender. Several reported that you need to reduce sail fairly early to keep the boat on its feet and sailing well.

The boat sails reasonably well. The one we were on, however, would not go to weather decently a combination of the shoal draft and a well-worn suit of sails. On other points, the boat was respectable. Close and broad reaching, it moved very well and was just a bit sluggish running.

She's not a fast boat by contemporary standards. In most areas, the 9.2 carries a PHRF rating of 180 seconds per mile (six seconds slower for the shoalkeel), which is six seconds per mile slower than a Pearson 30 and 12 to 15 seconds slower than the popular Catalina 30 with a tall rig. In contrast, the 9.2's racing-oriented sister, the S2 9.1, a 30-footer, rates 50 seconds per mile faster.

On the plus side, the boat is easy to sail, with a good balance between main and jib sail area. The running rigging and deck hardware is well set up. Oddly, not one equipment list for used 9.2s that we looked at had a spinnaker or spinnaker gear, an indication that the boat is rarely raced. However, if someone is interested in an occasional club race, the boat should sail up to its rating, assuming the sails are good and the boat well handled.

The deck is well laid out, though the walkways are a bit narrow for getting forward, and there?s a considerable step up into the center cockpit. Details of the deck anchor well, bow fittings, cleats, halyard runs, and so forth are well executed.

Performance Under Power

A few of the 1977/1978 boats were sold with an Atomic 4 gas engine. After 1979, diesels were installed. Through 1984, the engines were 12-hp or 15-hp Yanmars, or 12-hp Volvos. In 1985, a Yanmar 23 was optional.

The Atomic 4 was a good engine for the boat, as was the Yanmar 23. However, a number of owners report that the boat is underpowered with the Yanmar 12 and 15, and the Volvo 12. For a 10,000 pound boat, 12 to 15 hp would be adequate by traditional standards, but many sailors seem to want a little more these days. The Yanmar 15 in the boat we sailed had no trouble pushing the boat in calm waters, but the owner did say that the boat couldn't buck any kind of head sea. For some, the optional Yanmar 23 will make the later models more desirable.

In the center-cockpit model, many owners complained about the inaccessibility of one side of the engine and the difficulty of getting at the dipstick, but otherwise the engine was serviceable. A few boats were apparently sold with raw-water cooling rather than a heat exchanger. We'd be cautious about one of the older boats with raw-water cooling unless it had been kept exclusively in fresh water.

Interior

The interior was undoubtedly the strong selling point of the boat. For the most part, the belowdecks finish is well done, and theres about as much usable room below as you could get without making the hull significantly larger.

S2 was one of the first sailboat builders to use fabric as a hull liner, and it became almost a trademark of S2 interiors. The fabric is a neutral-colored polypropylene, treated to be mildew resistant. When we first saw the fabric, we were skeptical, wondering how it would hold up to saltwater soakings. But having owned a smaller S2 for five years, we finally became converts; in fact, in refitting our current boat, we used the fabric extensively, rather than replacing aged vinyl and wood veneer ceilings. The fabric is contact-cemented to the hull, and it holds up amazingly well, absorbing virtually no water. It is quite resistant to mildew and stains. The new owner of an S2 will want to find a good, compact wet/dry vacuum cleaner, which is the required maintenance equipment for the fabric.

The rest of the interior has teak veneer plywood, Formica, and solid teak trim, and the workmanship is good. Layouts changed little throughout the production of the boats. The aft-cockpit model is conventional, with a V-berth that is a bit short, a large head and hanging locker, a large dinette/settee with a settee opposite, and an L-shaped galley with a chart area/quarter berth opposite. There's adequate stowage under the berths and decent outside stowage in the lazarettes.

The center-cockpit model moves the main cabin forward and the head aft, near to and partially underneath the center cockpit. The galley is opposite the head, running lengthwise down the port side of the cabin and partially under the cockpit. The aft-cabin is roomy, with an athwartship double berth and good locker space. The shortcoming of the center cockpit is that there is virtually no outside storage.

Choosing between the center and aft cockpit is largely a matter of personal preference. With children, or two couples cruising, the aft cabin is hard to beat for livability.

Overall, the interiors are well enough designed and executed that little major work or upgrading should be necessary on most used boats. Many people will want to replace the alcohol stoves on earlier models, perhaps add refrigeration (or replace the original Unifridge), and perform the normal long-term maintenance of re-upholstering, but otherwise the interiors should need little major attention.

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.