Seven Marine expanded its mega-power outboard line to three models a little more than a year after its acquisition by Volvo Penta. The new Seven 527’s reduced price is intended to make Seven models accessible to more buyers, although Volvo Penta policy, unlike that of other engine-makers, dictates that Seven no longer publishes retail pricing (in 2016, we reported a Seven 557 base price of about $80,000 plus rigging). Behind the scenes, the affiliation has reduced the cost of some basic components and opened the door for Seven at new suppliers. Volvo also offers more-advanced testing and validation processes for Seven, according to Rick Davis, Seven Marine president and CEO.
The company says a redesigned cowl significantly reduces the cost of the 527 versus other Seven motors. The cowl features louvers in its top in place of the large scoop-shaped vent seen on the other Seven cowls. The 527 cowl does not accommodate the LED lighting options or the unlimited paint-and-finish options available for other Seven models. A new 1.91-to-1 gear ratio allows the 527 to produce outstanding torque.
Each of the Seven Marine models is powered by a 6.2-liter GM LSA Gen IV V-8 engine with a closed cooling system. Power output is determined by supercharger boost pressure and electronic engine tuning. Many of the features originally developed for the Seven 627 model, including high-performance cylinder heads and camshaft, and durable Inconel exhaust valves, have trickled down the model line in what has become a standardized engine package. The engine is mated to a ZF transmission with wet-disc clutch shifting, and to a twin-pinion gear case. All models feature integrated power steering and can be rigged with joystick controls.
The Seven 577s model is full-featured, with SpectraLight LED lighting (rear of cowl only) and limited color options. The Seven 627sv features SpectraBlade LED lighting (on the rear, top and sides) and can be ordered with unlimited custom paint color options. Note that each of these engines has a peak rpm of 6,000; Seven is not achieving more power by raising engine speed. There are three gear-case options: A single-prop case is rated for up to 80 mph; the CR gear case comes with four- or five-blade contra-rotating props and a massive blade area for lifting heavy boats on plane; and the bullet-nose GT gear case is good for boat speeds in excess of 85 mph.
