Manufacturers are raising the bar on power
The horsepower race is intensifying as Mercury and Seven Marine introduce some of the most powerful four-stroke outboards available this year. These new engines push performance, efficiency and engineering in ways that will influence boat design and buyer expectations for years to come.
Mercury expanded its Verado lineup with two high-output models: the Verado 350 and the Mercury Racing Verado 400R. “We take a bit of pride at Mercury in being about high performance, and with these engines we have the fastest, lightest, most fuel-efficient, quietest and highest-performing products on the market,” says Mercury Marine president John Pfeifer.
Both outboards are derived from Mercury’s 2.6-liter V-6 used in the 225-, 250- and 300-hp Verados, but they’ve been extensively re-engineered. The Racing-focused 400R is aimed at high-performance applications—including single-engine flats boats, catamaran sportboats and offshore center consoles—while the 350 Verado brings a notable power bump for a wider range of recreational boats.
Key to both engines is a new water-cooled supercharger that keeps intake temperatures down and enables higher engine speeds. The 400R’s calibration allows it to rev to 7,000 rpm, while the 350 peaks at 6,400 rpm. Additional upgrades include revised induction and fuel systems, new camshafts, reduced-friction powerheads and enhanced midsection components engineered for improved cooling and durability.
Mercury also focused on airflow and thermal management. A cold-air intake draws cooler outside air into the supercharger through a straighter, larger duct to minimize turbulence, and the water-cooled supercharger uses engine cooling water as a jacket to deliver greater boost and lower intake temperatures. Those changes, plus a redesigned Sport Master gearcase option on the 400R with low-water pickup and stainless-steel guide plates, improve top-end stability and high-speed handling.
Weight was another priority: the new engines weigh about 668 pounds—only 33 pounds more than the existing 2.6-liter Verado 300 and lighter than some competing V-8 outboards—helping keep installation and boat balance manageable for high-horsepower applications.
I had the opportunity to test the Verado 350 at Boston Whaler’s Edgewater, Florida facility. Three engines were fitted to a 370 Outrage center console, and the setup delivered strong hole-shot torque and brisk acceleration. At wide-open throttle the boat exceeded 50 mph comfortably, and the new Verados provided noticeably improved punch and responsiveness over previous versions.
Mercury engineers emphasize that the increased output is a result of modern engineering improvements rather than pushing the V-6 beyond safe limits. “Technology has allowed Mercury to produce more horsepower within relatively the same package,” says Larry Teeling, category manager for Mercury outboards.
The Verado 350 is well suited for large 40-plus-foot center consoles as well as for 22- to 32-foot center consoles and high-speed pontoon boats. Suggested retail pricing for the Verado 350 ranges from $27,505 to $28,240 in Phantom Black, and $28,990 to $29,725 in Cold Fusion White or Warm Fusion White.
The Mercury Racing Verado 400R has an MSRP in Phantom Black from $31,530 to $32,430 with the standard gearcase, and $33,730 to $34,630 with the Sport Master gearcase. In Cold Fusion White, the 400R’s MSRP ranges from $33,020 to $33,920 with the standard gearcase, and $35,220 to $36,120 with the Sport Master gearcase.
Seven Marine also pushed the envelope with a new 627-hp V-8 outboard. “Five years ago we broke the 500 barrier with a 557-hp motor, and now we are here to break the 600-hp barrier with a 627-hp outboard motor,” says Seven Marine founder and president Rick Davis. The company focused on increasing power while widening the usable torque band for better hole shot and cruising performance across the rpm range.
As horsepower climbs, pricing follows: the earlier 557-hp model is priced at $79,590, while the new 627-hp unit approaches $90,000. Seven Marine positions the 627 as a production high-end outboard designed to run on 89-octane fuel and to meet the needs of owners of larger performance-oriented boats.
The 627 also introduces aesthetic and lighting features, including the SpectraBlade cowling with integrated color LEDs for customizable illumination. That lighting package is offered as an option at $2,999, letting owners tailor the outboard’s look to match their boat and mood.
Growing outboard power is tied directly to the trend toward ever-larger center console boats. Several builders now offer models over 40 feet—Boston Whaler, Scout, Everglades, Intrepid, Yellowfin and SeaHunter among them—with additional large designs arriving from manufacturers such as Regulator. As Regulator president Joan Maxwell noted, today’s available horsepower has driven boatbuilders to conceive and produce much larger outboard-powered designs than were common decades ago.
Boatbuilders are responding: HydraSports Custom has pushed past 50 feet with the new 5300 Sueños, which can be configured with up to 2,228 horsepower from five Mercury 350 Verados or four Seven Marine 557s, illustrating how increased engine output enables significantly larger outboard-driven yachts and sportfishing boats.
On the sterndrive side, Volvo Penta introduced the Forward Drive—a forward-facing propeller sterndrive that resembles the IPS pod layout and pairs with Volvo Penta V-8 gasoline sterndrive engines from 300 to 430 hp. Designed for tow-sports boats, the Forward Drive features underwater exhaust for quieter, cleaner operation and counter-rotating props set 27 inches farther forward than conventional sterndrives for improved grip and safety. During a trial on a 22-foot Four Winns with a 300-hp setup, the drive reduced noise, eliminated exhaust backdraft and delivered strong handling in hard turns at 25–30 mph.
For enthusiasts focused on speed, torque and modern marine engineering, these developments mark an exciting period. From boosted V-6s and supercharged racing variants to ultra-high-horsepower V-8 outboards and innovative sterndrive configurations, the push for more power continues to reshape boats and boating experiences.
June 2015 issue