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My initial impressions included smoothness and quiet
running, but even at idle – and especially at start-up – there
is a distinctive V8 burble. he cadence of the V8 exhaust note
became more urgent as the revs rose, but noise levels are nicely
controlled. At higher speeds the whine of the superchargers
adds a distinctive soprano note to the throaty bark of the
engines’ tubular stainless-steel exhausts.
It’s diicult to adequately describe the overwhelming sensation
of power that results from opening the throttles, but we quickly
learned to heed Michael’s instructions to hold on tight!
Acceleration is awe-inspiring, but it’s the accompanying
soundtrack from two sets of dual exhausts, overlaid by the
high-pitched whine of the superchargers, that is truly out of
this world! At full noise the engines sound like a supersonic
jetliner taking of.
At the same time, the outboards never feel harsh, vibration
is non-existent, and thanks to the supercharger, the power
delivery is linear – it’s like turning on a tap.
ZF electronic throttles provide swift response, and the engines
can be operated individually or both together using two levers,
or with engines synced using one lever to control both. he
outboards ofer a wide trim range and Michael used most of it
during our demonstration. At higher speeds, the engines need to
be trimmed well out and small engine trim adjustments make a
big diference to speed and economy. Trim tabs were also used.
Fortunately, outboard trim settings, along with a vast range
of engine data, fuel-burn igures, range and much more, are
prominently displayed on the TEC7 multi-function touch-
screen display – Michael says he is still learning the menu. he
default display is conigured so that all the most important data
is easy to see, but users can customise the display. he engines
are stopped and started from virtual buttons on the screen.
With outboards of this size, fuel economy is probably moot,
but decent igures are achievable. At 30 knots each engine was
burning 60 litres an hour, rising to 220 litres per hour at 40
knots. he Everglades carries 1,500 litres of fuel and the tank
was three-quarters full on demo day.
On one two-hour trip during the engines’ run-in period theboat travelled from Westhaven to Matiaitia, Waiheke Island,
on to Bon Accord Harbour, Kawau Island, down the coast to
Mahurangi Harbour and then back to Westhaven. Total fuel
burn was 400 litres.
As expected, performance was spectacular: this rig is
quite capable of making fast, comfortable passages in most
conditions. he Everglades is a big, heavy vessel, but we saw a
top speed of 57 knots at the 5,500rpm redline. he rev limiters
cut in if the revolutions climb too high and the computer
automatically shuts down the engine if it is accidentally
trimmed up too far, as we discovered while trying to eke out an
extra half-knot.
At a fast cruising speed of 40 knots, the ride was
comfortable and noise levels were relatively muted. Indeed, it
was hard to credit how fast you were travelling. At 50 knots-
plus, the rush of wind was the main indicator of speed, along
with the turbine-like howl of the engines.
And what a glorious sound it is! BNZtype supercharged, intercooled 6.2L GM Gen IV small block,
90° V8
displacement 6,162cc (376ci)
weight 497kg
horsepower 627hp (at propeller)
torque 813Nm
bore x stroke 103.25 x 92mm
fuel system sequential fuel injection
alternator 180 amps 12V (120A @ 1,000rpm)
transmission ZF electronically-controlled
gearcase twin pinion
exhaust system stainless steel twin-walled tubular headers
cooling system closed-loop heat exchanged with
twin-impeller gear-driven pumps
warranty three years (500 hours per year for three years)
fuel consumption who cares?627S SPECIFICATIONSSERVICE
We are the only official service centre for
Seven Marine engines in NZ.
INSTALLATION
Our workshop is the sole New Zealand
installation site for Seven Marine.
SALES
If you want the ultimate in marine outboard
luxury and power, contact us today.PH: +64 9 5711140
E: [email protected]
Seven Marine New Zealand are the official distributors
for the full range of Seven Marine Engines. Owned and
operated by Power & Marine New Zealand.