WATSONVILLE, Calif. – West Marine has awarded the MercMonitor, featuring the ECO-Screen, with the grand prize for the first annual Green Product of the Year contest. Randy Repass, West Marine chairman and founder, presented the $10,000 prize to Mercury Marine President Mark Schwabero.

The panel of judges who selected the winning entry included: Dr. Randy Kochevar, Stanford University; Mike Sutton, Center for the Future of the Oceans; Chuck Hawley, VP Product Information, West Marine; Ruth Wood, president, Boat US Foundation; Chuck Husick, president, Owa, Inc., former president of Cessna Aircraft and Chris-Craft Boats; Stan Honey, Ocean Racing Navigator, founder of Etak and SportVision; and Randy Repass, chairman and founder, West Marine.
 
The judges made their selection based on eco-effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, applicability and breadth of market impact, degree of innovation and originality, and compliance with official rules. Dr. Kochevar noted that the MercMonitor featuring the ECO-Screen “is an intuitive, easy to use gauge that helps boaters optimize the efficiency of their boats–lowering fuel consumption and increasing MPG.”

“Boaters will burn less fossil fuel, reducing their impact on the environment; and will save an average of 10 to 20 percent in fuel costs as well,” said Kochevar.
 
The Green Product of the Year contest was designed to help fulfill West Marine’s mission to “preserve and protect the marine environment,” said Randy Repass. 

“We hope it encourages vendors, manufacturers and inventors to develop sustainable products to help boaters enjoy boating, while minimizing their impact on our natural resources. I look forward to seeing next year’s entries,” added Repass.
 
This annual competition is open to manufacturers, distributors and inventors of boating products throughout the United States.

Mercury President Mark Schwabero responded to the award by announcing that the $10,000 prize would be used to launch the Mercury Marine Conservation Fund, designed to improve the environment near Fond du Lac, Wis., home of Mercury Marine’s global headquarters.

“We have deep roots in this community,” said Mike Shedivy, vice president of marketing and new business development for Mercury Marine.

“It’s a beautiful place to live and to raise our families. Through this fund, Mercury is playing a greater role in keeping it that way for generations to come,” said Shedivy. 

By constantly monitoring engine RPM, boat speed, fuel consumption and engine trim, the ECO-Screen automatically calculates and guides boaters to their best fuel economy settings, thus reducing fuel consumption.

Working in cooperation with the Fond du Lac Area Foundation, the Mercury Marine fund will be used to support local initiatives to ensure the sustained health of the community’s aquatic environment.

“Mercury Marine has been such an important part of the vitality of this community throughout the years,” said foundation executive director Sandi Roehrig.

“I am very happy that Mercury has chosen to establish this fund that further demonstrates their continued commitment to the Fond du Lac area,” added Roehrig.
 
Local citizens established the foundation to provide funds to support and enhance the Fond du Lac community. Since its inception in 1975, the foundation has awarded more than $9 million in charitable grants to local organizations.