IOTW: Seven Marine 557 Reflections in Miami

ByMatt Trulio February 15, 2014March 31, 2020

At the Miami International Boat Show today, I got my first ride on a boat powered by Seven Marine 557 outboard engines—three of them, in fact, pumping out a combined 1,671 hp. The boat was a 42-foot Sea Hunter weighing in dry at 16,000-plus pounds, but with 500 gallons of fuel (yes, 500 gallons) the big center console was anything but dry. Joining me for the ride were two representatives from Seven Marine, Bob Teague, the technical editor of Speed On The Water magazine and a show visitor who just wanted “to go for a ride.”

Triple Seven Marine 557 outboard engines on a 42-foot center console provided big thrills for more than a few people today. Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

He got the ride of his life. Even though we didn’t have enough open water to get the 42-footer to its reported top speed of 81 mph—the boat was 10-mph shy of that number and still pulling hard when we ran out of aquatic real estate and had to slow down—our guest was beside himself. In fact, he was kneeling down behind the center console’s leaning post and shrieking (yes, shrieking) with delight. At least I think it was delight.

“I’ve never gone that fast in a boat in my life,” he said when we got back to the docks. “That was incredible. I can’t even describe it. I think I need to get a beer just to calm down.”

And off he went to find that beer.

Like the Sunsation 29 CCX (read the story) I rode in earlier today, the experience reminded me of what really mattered. Teague and I—can’t speak for the Seven Marine reps—have gone twice that fast in boats many times. But when you haven’t been there before, half the speed can be twice the fun. It’s all relative, right?

Just more thing to love about this year’s Miami International Boat Show.

IOTW: Seven Marine 557 Reflections in Miami

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