The S2 11.0 Sailboat

The S2 11.0 is a series of American cruising sailboats that were designed by Arthur Edmunds and built by S2 Yachts, a company founded by Leon Slikkers, a former Chris Craft employee who started his own boatbuilding business in 1973.

'Haven', an S2 11.0C sailboatThe S2 11.0 series includes an aft-cockpit model (11.0A) and a centre-cockpit model (11.0C). Here, 'Haven', an S2 11.0C is setting off on a passage from Guadeloupe to Antigua in the West Indies

Published Specification for the S2 11.0C

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass)

Length Overall: 36'0" (11.00m)

Waterline Length: 28'3" (8.6m)

Beam: 11'11" (3.6m)

Draft: 5'6" (1.7m) deep draft version; 4'6" (1.4m) shoal draft version

Rig Type: Masthead Sloop

Displacement: 15,000lb (6,804kg)

Designer: Arthur Edmunds

Builder: S2 Yachts (USA)

Year First Built: 1980

Year Last Built: 1987

Number Built: 66


Published Design Ratios for the S2 11.0C

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.8

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 37.5

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 317

4. Comfort Ratio: 29.9

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.9

read more about these all-revealing numbers...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the S2 11.0C

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 15.8 suggests that the S2 11.0C will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 37.5 means that unless the bulk of the ballast is concentrated in a bulb at the foot of her keel, the S2 11.0C will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and she'll need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze. 

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 317, tells us the S2 11.0C is clearly a heavy displacement cruising boat. You can load her down with all your cruising gear and equipment and it will hardly affect her waterline. Not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she'll come into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 29.9 suggests that crew comfort of a S2 11.0C in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.9 tells us that a S2 11.0C would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0. 


Any Questions?

Is the S2 11.0 still in production and, if not, when did production end and how many of these sailboats were built?

No, the S2 11.0 is not in production anymore. Production ended in 1987, after 10 years of manufacturing. A total of 222 boats were built, including 156 aft-cockpit models (11.0 A) and 66 centre-cockpit models (11.0 C).

What is the history of the builders of the S2 11.0 and is the company still in business?

The builders of the S2 11.0 are S2 Yachts, a company founded by Leon Slikkers in Holland, Michigan, in 1973. Slikkers had previously worked for Chris Craft and had also established his own powerboat company, Slickcraft, which he sold to AMF in the early 1970s. Slikkers started S2 Yachts to build sailboats, initially focusing on trailerable models, then expanding to larger cruising auxiliaries and high-performance racers.

The S2 11.0 was part of the second wave of cruising sailboats that Slikkers developed in the late 1970s. In the early 1980s, Slikkers returned to building powerboats under the Tiara and Pursuit brands, and stopped producing sailboats in 1986. The company is still in business today as Tiara Yachts, with Leon's sons David and Bob at the helm, and Leon still involved as an active founder.

What is the S2 11.0 like to sail?

The S2 11.0 is a well-balanced and responsive sailboat that performs well in light to moderate winds and seas. The boat has a moderate displacement of around 15,000 pounds and a hull speed of around 7 knots. The boat has a good turn of speed on all points of sail, especially on a reach or a run, where it can easily achieve speeds over 6 knots. The boat is also easy to steer and tack, thanks to its spade rudder and fin keel. The boat can handle heavier winds and waves, but may need to reef early and reduce sail area to maintain control and comfort. The boat has a comfortable motion and a dry ride, with minimal heeling and hobby-horsing. The boat is also well-equipped for cruising, with a reliable diesel engine, a large fuel tank, and a spacious cockpit and cabin.

What is the average cost of a secondhand S2 11.0?

The average cost of a secondhand S2 11.0 depends on the year, condition, equipment, and location of the boat. According to the BUC Used Boat Price Guide, a 1981 model S2 11.0 (in both centre and aft-cockpit versions) has a retail value range today between $48,000 and $52,000 (Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region). 

What other sailboats have been created by the designer of the S2 11.0?

The designer of the S2 11.0 is Arthur Edmunds, a naval architect who worked for S2 Yachts from 1977 to 1986. Edmunds designed several other sailboats for S2 Yachts, including the S2 8.0 (a trailerable cruiser), the S2 9.1 (a performance racer-cruiser), the S2 10.3 (a cruising sloop), and the S2 12.9 (a centre-cockpit cruiser). Edmunds also designed sailboats for other companies, such as Hunter Marine, Endeavour Yachts, and Gulfstar Yachts. Some of his notable designs are the Hunter 34, the Endeavour 37, and the Gulfstar 50.

The above answers were drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; to the best of our knowledge, we believe them to be accurate.


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