For the second time in three years, Mercury Marine and Brunswick Corporation both won the Most Innovative Marine Company award, conferred by Soundings Trade Only (STO), a prominent media group serving the boating industry. During the Sept. 27 opening night of the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) in Tampa, STO award officials announced that Mercury and its parent company tied for the 2021 top honors among numerous marine businesses recognized in their awards program.
The panel of judges praised Mercury and Brunswick for outstanding accomplishments in 2021. These included the launches of several industry-changing products, highlighted by the unveiling of the Mercury V12 Verado and SeaPro outboards and the Sea Ray Sundancer 370. Additionally, judges commended Mercury and Brunswick for their commitment to the health and safety of their employees and their extraordinary efforts to continue to meet customer demand during the global pandemic.
“This has been a monumental year in Mercury’s 80-plus-year history, capped by our launch of the V12 600hp Verado outboard,” said Chris Drees, Mercury Marine president. “With our talented team and deep expertise across design, engineering and product development, I’m confident that we’ll continue to lead the industry in delivering the most innovative propulsion technology.”
The 600hp Verado outboard is the highest-horsepower outboard in production today and the world’s first and only outboard with a V12 powerhead, a steerable gearcase and a two-speed transmission. With the rollout of the V12 Verado outboard, Mercury also introduced its Next Gen Digital Throttle & Shift Premier remote controls, creating a refined user experience by combining enhanced ergonomics with responsive performance and a context-sensitive display. This joint product rollout demonstrated the company’s commitment to providing integrated, prop-to-helm solutions that make boating more intuitive and enhance on-the-water experiences.
It is a commitment shared by all Brunswick companies. “2021 has been another transformative year for our company as we continue to redefine the recreational boating experience and attract new, more diverse consumers with the most advanced technology, the most comprehensive product portfolio and innovative new ways to participate in boating,” said Brunswick Corporation CEO Dave Foulkes. “This award is a testament to the commitment of our more than 15,000 global employees who, despite many challenges, continue to display the highest level of dedication to executing our mission of delivering innovation and inspiration on the water.”
In announcing the selection of Mercury for the shared top honor, STO said that, although the judges saw the V12 600hp Verado outboard as a game-changer, “our decision to honor Merc goes well beyond its product line and extends into its green practices, namely, the company’s pledge to derive half of its energy consumption from renewable sources by the end of the decade, and a work culture wherein 50% of its manufacturing assembly employees are women.”
Jeff Moser, Soundings Trade Only editor-in-chief, likewise commended the Mercury Marine parent company. “Over the last year, Brunswick Corporation has demonstrated a keen ability to empower its workforce — with the goal of taking a shared, forward-looking approach to the marine industry. The company has made smart acquisitions, released headline-grabbing new products, received multiple awards for workplace diversity and initiatives and expanded its innovation centers and Freedom Boat Club without losing sight of its core mission — getting more people on the water.”