West Marine Announces "Green Product of the Year" Winners: Attwood's Fuel Demand Valve And CFA Eco, Copper Free And Water-Based Bottom Paint, Share Top Honors

WATSONVILLE, Calif., Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- West Marine (Nasdaq: WMAR), the country's largest retailer of boating supplies and accessories, announced today that two products were selected as "Green Product of the Year" Winners. The Attwood Fuel Demand Valve and West Marine CFA Eco Antifouling Bottom Paint shared top honors.  These products address two dramatically different problems and both are capable of making a big difference in air and water pollution. 

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130214/SF60086)

Starting in 2011, the EPA required that portable fuel tanks had to be sealed.  The pressure can overwhelm valves in older engines, causing flooding and may also cause gas to leak when making or breaking connections.  The Attwood Fuel Demand Valve only allows fuel to pass when the engine pulls fuel from the tank. 

"If you have an outboard motor that uses portable tanks, you should consider retrofitting your tank with the Attwood Fuel Demand Valve. When the fuel heats up, as it always does in the summertime, this device helps capture the pressurized fuel so that there aren't any accidental spills. What a great idea," said Margaret Podlich, President, BoatU.S. and a "Green Product of the Year" judge. 

The second winner was West Marine's CFA Eco Antifouling Bottom Paint, the world's first copper-free, dual biocide, water-based ablative antifouling paint.  Developed by Kop-Coat Marine Group, CFA Eco uses the highest level of the new metal-free Econea biocide combined with a slime-fighting inhibitor for multi-season protection.  The water-based formulation is used to replace most of the volatile solvents found in most bottom paints.

Dr. Ann Blake, an environmental and public health consultant, and judge noted "if this paint gets adopted by the market, it will go a long way to reducing solvent emissions and marine contamination from copper."

In addition to Blake and Podlich, the esteemed panel of judges for the "Green Product of the Year" included; Stan Honey, Director of Technology, America's Cup Event Authority; Dr. Randy Kochevar, Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Station; Bill Lee, Owner, Wizard Yacht Sales and Jim Leishman, Owner & VP of Nordhavn Yachts.  West Marine Associates and Rich Kolb, Engineering Manager, Volvo Penta of the Americas recused themselves from voting because their products were finalists.

The judges made their selection based on effectiveness, cost-competitiveness, environmental impact, degree of innovation and verification of claims.  Customers can visit West Marine's booth at the Miami International Boat Show, or online via westmarine.com to learn more about these products or any of West Marine's 75,000 other product offerings.

About West Marine

West Marine, the largest specialty retailer of boating supplies and accessories, has nearly 300 company-operated stores located in 38 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, and five franchised stores located in Turkey. Our Direct-to-Customer division, which comprises our call center, direct mail and e-commerce channels, offers Customers over 75,000 products plus the convenience of exchanging catalog and e-commerce purchases at our Store locations. Our Port Supply division is one of the largest wholesale distributors of marine equipment serving boat manufacturers, marine services, commercial vessel operators and government agencies. For more information on West Marine's products and store locations, or to start shopping, visit westmarine.com or call 1-800-BOATING. 

SOURCE West Marine

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