Boating New Zealand - July 2018

n the current horsepower race between

outboard engine manufacturers, the

US’ Seven Marine leads the pack by

a full length. Seven Marine’s three

supercharged V8 models span a

horsepower range of between 527hp

and 627hp, eclipsing other high horsepower production

outboards by at least 100hp.

hese outboards are built around highly-developed,

marinised versions of General Motors’ fourth generation

(Gen-IV) 6.2-litre, small block V8, mounted horizontally,

which in automotive guise powers a range of GM vehicles,

including the iconic Corvette. For New Zealand readers,

versions of this engine are probably best known from Holden

Special Vehicles’ (HSV) high-performance models. Sadly,

Holden Australia stopped manufacturing cars in 2017.

In New Zealand, Power and Marine Ltd is the distributor

and service agent for Seven Marine. he company also looks

after Honda outboards.

he irst two Seven Marine engines in this country, both

halo 627hp models, recently arrived in Auckland where they

were itted to a customer’s 35-foot Everglades 350CC (centre-

console) sportishing boat. hey replaced three 350hp V8

Yamahas on the boat’s transom.

Power and Marine technicians are currently installing

another pair of Seven Marine 627S outboards to a second

boat, also a large American sportisher.

Seven Marine, headquartered in Germantown, Wisconsin,

was founded in 2010 by Rick Davis and his sons Brian and

Eric. Rick’s background included 43 years of technology and

engineering management in the marine market, including

senior roles in engine development and advanced engineering

for Mercury Marine.

he 627S puts out an astonishing 813Nm of torque,

transmitting this to the propeller via a ZF transmission

featuring precision-ground 90o spiral-bevel gears, inboard-

style wet disc clutches, integrated trolling functionality and

smooth, progressive shifting.

he gearcase is a twin-pinion design that minimises

frontal area for less drag and divides torque across two drive

gears for durability, high-speed cruise economy and stonking

mid-range acceleration. hree gearcases are available,

including the high-performance GT gearcase and the high-

thrust CR gearcase with contra-rotating propellers. he

engines on the Everglades 350CC have standard gearcases

with counter-rotating, ive-bladed Mercury Maximus 15 5/8-

inch by 26-inch propellers.

Michael Roberts, the only person in New Zealand

currently qualiied to operate the vessel, underwent

comprehensive training with the Seven Marine team sent to

WORDS BY JOHN EICHELSHEIM

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRYCE TAYLOR

feature

Seven Marine

627S

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I

OPPOSITE Seven

Marine’s 627S is

the most powerful

model in the

company’s V8

outboard portfolio.

These two are

the first in New

Zealand.

LEFT The

Everglades 350CC

relished the extra

horsepower.