Seven Marine shocked the boating world with its first 557-horsepower outboard motor in 2011. Its imposing V-8, gleaming stainless exhaust headers and contra-rotating propellers drew crowds and even some naysayers who doubted the viability of such a beast. In 2012, the company introduced the next generation of its mega outboard. It features a 6.2L V-8, four-stroke EFI engine that can be outfitted with standard or contra-rotating propellers; an optional cowl with a multi-louvered intake design to improve air flow; a choice of 1.47, 1.75, and 1.91:1 gear ratios; and 89-octane fuel compatibility.
The engine is built in Lexington, Tennessee at Volvo Penta’s existing facility, and the company plans to continue supporting current customers with warranty and parts responsibilities. But a spokesperson says “the decision to stop sales and marketing is driven by a desire to be a net zero emissions company.”
The Davis family founded the Wisconsin-based Seven Marine in 2010 and sold it in 2017 to Swedish powerboat giant Volvo Penta, which moved production to Lexington. It was a smart move because Volvo Penta already had a factory there to manufacture its own inboard gas and diesel engines.
Sadly, it was a short-lived partnership. Neither company could keep pace with the pace of innovation in outboards, especially at the high horsepower levels that the Seven Marines offered. The Yamaha 425 XTO and Mercury 400 Verado are both Seven Marine killers; not only are they more powerful, but they also offer better margins for the manufacturers.