[kwaltersmi]

I've sailed and done Wednesday night races on an S2 11.0a. My dock neighbor has a 1982 model (You can see it in the background of my avatar picture). Very nice boat with a good cruising layout for two. I think you can find more room for similar money/size if you plan to cruise with more than 2. I've always thought that anything 36' and up should offer a private aft quarters instead an open quarter berth.

They seem very well built with good hardware and nice fit-and-finish down below. However, the boat has a long-ish overhang on the bow, making it less roomy inside (shorter waterline too) than you might imagine for a 36 footer. Also, the mainsheet traveler placement is on the companionway threshold, making it somewhat of a nuisance. My neighbor upgraded his traveler hardware because the original design did not allow for easy adjustments when the sheet is loaded.

The 11.0 sails well, but doesn't quite match PHRF ratings of most newer mid-30's racer/cruisers, partly due to the long bow overhang.

Tiara Yachts has been rumored to be planning a re-entry into the sailboat market with a new small, racy S2 (possibly patterned after the 7.9). In any case, they are a company with a good reputation and I've heard they still offer a bit of support for the old S2's, including service manuals, etc.

I'm also a fan of Sabres in general and really like the 28/30/34. I think they are solidly built and have timeless good looks. I've only ever been on a 28 so I can't say much about the 34.