Last year, Poker Runs America, in conjunction with Mercury Racing, presented a world-exclusive feature article on the Wisconsin-headquartered company’s unveiling of its popular 850 SCi sterndrive. Welcome to Miami, 2006 – and the first-ever introduction of Merc’s all-new, revolutionary integrated 700SCi engine package.

The demand for high performance on the water commands qualified attention. Enter Mercury Racing and sport boating’s revolutionary700 SCi game-changing technology.
With hours to spare prior to press time, Poker Runs America magazine received the official words from Rick Mackie, Mercury Racing’s senior marketing manager, describing a much-anticipated, new sterndrive engine package.

Highlighted by a PCM 03-managed boost bypass control valve and a dry-sump ACE drive designed and developed exclusively by Mercury Racing, the 700 SCi is based on the CNC-machined 502-cubic-inch block as the 525 EFI and the 600 SCi. For improved engine cooling, the intercooler, made of copper-nickel alloy for enhanced resistance to corrosion, is .75 inches taller its 600 SCi counterpart. An internal cast passage is designed to boost bypass. The intake also features fuel injection and a fuel cross-over passage that eliminates tee fittings by routing fuel to both port and starboard fuel rails.

An inductiion-hardened, micro-alloy crankshaft features larger journal radii said to enhance strength and durability. Connecting rods come with a floating wrist pin as well as stronger rod bolts. A new camshaft design , says Merc, provides more valve lift for better power and torque. To further protect the 700, Mercury’s engineers have also increased the oil flow rate.

The 700 SCi is the first engine to come standard with Mercury Racing’s new universal mount system that, according to reports, will allow boat builders to easily install the engine in virtually any hull configuration. The 700 also marks the appearance of Merc’s new large-capacity power steering reservoir with carbon fiber covers, polished pulleys and anthracite grey-painted selected components.

Combining a powerful engine management computer with a 3.3L Lysholm screw-type supercharger, roller camshaft and sequential fuel injection, Merc says it has achieved idle quality, instant throttle response and superior performance throughout the 4800- to 5200-rpm operating range. As well, the use of what the company refers to as new “PCM idle speed control strategies” along with an exclusive dual-shift switch and coupler design to smooth shifting for the dry-sump ACE drive, the PCM 03 computer enables individual cylinder control, optimizing fuel, spark timing and noc control independently for each cylinder.

The 700 is also equipped with fuel cooling and a mechanical pump to combat vapor lock. A custom billet aluminum housing .accommodates the fuel pressure regulator and water-separating fuel filter. Supercharger boost is variable. A boost bypass control , electronically activated by the PCM O3 microprocessor, continuously adjusts the amount of boost needed to provide consistent horsepower when operating in sub-optimal running conditions, says Mercury Racing, pointing out that this eliminates the need to re-prop to match conditions.

The new ACE drive development delivers an input torque rating of 800 lb-ft and can be installed in the same position of engines equipped with Bravo drives.

The integrated transmission sits within the transom assembly, between the engine bell housing and the drive. The new gearcase features a wedge-style skeg with a rear-water pickup design that is interchangeable with available accessory pickups for multiple hull configurations and speeds.

Stainless steel propshaft and hub adapters are said to enable both the five-blade Maximus and Merc’s new line of CNC-machined five-blade cleaver props. The ACE drive comes standard with an integrated steering system similar to that used on the dry-sump Six drive. A tie-bar attachment features a tucked-in design for easier swim platform clearance.
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