Firstmate Controls

When researching  marine electronic equipment  online, it's always reassuring to know what the company you're considering buying from is all about. It's also nice to know the quality of products they offer, the services they provide, and whether or not they'll be there for continued support once the sale is final. These considerations are all things that we understand and appreciate, which is why we're making it easier for you to get to know us and the services and products we offer! How We Got Started Firstmate Controls officially started in 2005 in satellite communications providing contract engineering for larger firms and engineering services for smaller inventors. We have aided in bringing products to market not only in the marine market but also in the drive-through industry, trucking industry and hold multiple patents in communications. Our manufacturing facility is located in Labadie, MO, but we ship our top quality products all over America. Our F...

Get ready for the boating season this year by revolutionizing your hoist! Not sure what products will be best for properly accessorizing a dock ? Firstmate Controls has some featured products that you'll love. We make shopping for dock accessories and remote control systems easy. We don't just have remote control systems, we also carry parts for servicing systems as well. Check out our website for more products that we have in stock. Standard Remote Features: Emergency Handles Remote Controlled Safety Valve Drivers Available: 1 Valve  2-Valve  Colors Available: White with Blue Lid White with Black Lid White with Gray Lid White with Red Lid White with Yellow Lid Generation 3 Pro Features: Faster Operation Even Easier to Use Emergency Handles Remote Controlled Safety Valve Drivers Smart Controls Lift Monitoring Programmable Positions Remote Lighting Option from Key Fob: Dock Lights, Ambient or Cove Theatre ...

Make boating easier and more enjoyable by revolutionizing your hoist! Not sure what products will be best for properly  accessorizing a dock ?  Firstmate Controls  has some featured products that you'll love. We make shopping for dock accessories and  remote control systems  easy. We don't just have remote control systems, we also carry parts for servicing systems as well.  Check out our website  for more products that we have in stock. Manual Boxes Features: Full Port Valves  Handle Stops Standard Remote Features: Emergency Handles  Remote Controlled  Safety Valve Drivers Generation 3 Pro Features:  Faster Operation  Even Easier to Use  Emergency Handles  Remote Controlled  Safety Valve Drivers  Smart Controls  Lift Monitoring  Programmable Positions  Remote Lighting Option from Key Fob: Dock Lights, Ambient or Cove Theatre Lighting   *Features includ...

There is without a doubt, no better accessory to have for your boat lift than a boat lift remote control system . With the many advantages it provides, investing in a boat lift remote control will be your most favorite purchase of all. Firstmate Controls has been manufacturing some of the best electronic marine equipment around for years, so we wanted to share with you a bit of history of how these products came to fruition. Take a look back at the history of Firstmate Controls. History of Firstmate Controls “Necessity, the Mother of Invention” ~ Plato Being boaters on the Mississippi during our dating years, our agreement when putting the boat away was that John would clean the outside of the boat while Julie cleaned the inside. Worked great until the day the spokes came off ~ John had the boat up on the lift while Julie was cleaning the inside like any other time. John stepped away and Julie decided to try and jump from the boat, in the air, to the dock. Not making the dock ...

There is without a doubt, no better accessory to have for your boat lift than a  boat lift remote control  system. With the many advantages it provides, investing in a boat lift remote control will be your most favorite purchase of all.  Firstmate Controls  has some of the best electronic marine equipment around. Let us give you some examples of the advantages of owning Firstmate products for your boat lift control needs. Why put in all this work?  Consider the efforts that you put into launching and docking your boat anytime you want to go out on the water. You've got to lower the boat from the dock, and then climb on-board while the boat is swaying back and forth from the waves. You've got to pull your boat out and moor it while you climb back off the boat to go raise the lift back up. Then you have to climb back in your boat without falling in the water. And guess what, you've got to do this whole crazy and time consuming dance all over again after a l...

The kids may be headed back to school and summer may be winding down for most... but us boaters aren't quite ready to call it quits for the season just yet. We water lovers know that boating season doesn't truly stop until the weather just doesn't permit us to get out on the water anymore. So, if you're looking for something boat related to do this weekend that's fun for the whole family, we've got just the thing for any boat loving enthusiast. This Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27 marks the 29th year for the Lake of the Ozarks Annual Shootout event! But that's not all... Check out more about how this awesome event got started, as well as other Shootout related events you can take part in this week! What's This Event All About? The Lake Rescue Shootout started in 1988 as an event in which many local boats participated simply to establish who had the fastest boat. As the years went by it became a bigger and bigger event that also helped supp...

Boating is a favorite pastime for many people. And if you are lucky enough to have a boat to hit the rivers and lakes in Missouri, you know what we mean. There is no better feeling than spending a day out on the water with friends and family. Naturally, if you have children you will want to include them in your on-the-water fun. This week, Firstmate Controls offers some tips to make boating fun and safe when children are present: WEARING LIFE JACKETS Even the best swimmers should still practice safe boating by wearing a life jacket. Since you never know what could happen at any given moment, it's best to wear a life jacket at all times to avoid drowning. Your child’s life jacket should fit snugly and have a collar that will turn the child face up if he/she enters the water. Choose a jacket or vest that has a handle on it and is brightly colored for high visibility. By getting your child used to wearing their life jacket regularly while on the boat, they will be less likel...

One of the best pastimes during the summer is spending as much time as you can out on the water! But if you don't have the right equipment for your dock and lift, you could be spending more time on the dock than you anticipated when you could already be out on the water. Not sure what products will be best for properly  accessorizing a dock  so you can get on and off the water faster?  Firstmate Controls  has some featured products that you'll love. We make shopping for dock accessories and  remote control systems  easy. We don't just have remote control systems, we also carry parts for servicing systems as well.  Check out our website  for more products that we have in stock. Manual Boxes Features: Full Port Valves  Handle Stops Standard Remote Features: Emergency Handles  Remote Controlled  Safety Valve Drivers Generation 3 Pro Features:  Faster Operation  Even Easier to Use  Emergency Ha...

Everyone loves being invited to partake in summer fun activities - including your pets! After all, they are family AND your best friends, too. One summer activity you may be hesitant to involve your dog in is going out on the boat. While many dogs are typically natural swimmers, the question still stands as to whether they'd do well on the water or not. Firstmate Controls knows you want to include your furry buddy in all of your outdoor fun activities this summer, so we've come up with some helpful tips to follow when taking your dog on a boat. Check it out! Acquaint Your Dog with the Boat Our first tip is to get your dog acclimated and comfortable with the boat BEFORE launching. The last thing you want to do is to bring your dog out on the water and have to turn right back around because they become anxious or scared. Start out on the dock, letting them find their sea legs and become comfortable with the movement on the dock. Once they seem comfortable on dock, you can ...

This summer get out and enjoy one of life's favorite pleasures, fishing! There's nothing quite as relaxing, enjoyable, and at times as exhilarating as fishing. From enjoying the peacefulness of being on the water, to bonding with friends, to catching a monster of a fish you can gloat about to all of your buddies, there's nothing quite like the sport of fishing.  Firstmate Controls has some helpful hints to make sure your fishing experience is memorable and will be a great story to be told for a lifetime! Let's take a look: Do Some Research Before just taking out on the water with random bait and tackle that you've accumulated over the years, be sure to do some research on the fish you're aiming to catch. Going out with catfish bait when you're hoping to reel in some large mouth bass isn't going to get you very far. By researching, you'll find that buzz-bait and live bait are most attractive to large mouth bass. Also, you need to know when ...

This summer you'll likely spend much of your free time out on the water, and we think that's fantastic! But how much work do you generally put into making your day on the water epic or keeping your boat and dock safe while you're not around to tend to it? With the enhancement of marine technology, your answer could be very little - meaning you're enjoying your boat more than fretting over it. Firstmate Controls has come up with a list of MUST-HAVE  marine electronic devices you need to install to ensure your boat and dock are secure, your time on the water is enjoyable, and your worries are minimal - check them out! Marine Stereo System Install a waterproof marine grade stereo system to your boat and dock to get the party started! There are several options for marine approved stereo systems loaded with features such as built-in bluetooth, AM/FM radio, USB drive readers, auxiliary jacks and much more to make listening to music on the water easy. From dock to bo...

Memorial Day Weekend is all about honoring those who gave their lives for our freedom. It's also a major weekend for kicking off summer time fun. There are many ways to honor those that have given their lives and to enjoy the extended weekend. Firstmate Controls has some great ways for you to enjoy this time with friends and family. Take a look: Remember Those Who Have Fallen Memorial Day is the perfect time to visit a National Military Cemetery. If you have children, this can double as an educational opportunity for them. You can always bring flowers to lay by the gravestones, too – even if you didn’t personally know the individual buried there. Red poppies were the flowers traditionally used in the very first Memorial Day observances, so you can bring them if you’re going all-out with your child’s educational historical experience. Attend a Local Event Regardless as to where you live, there's a good chance that some kind of activity is going on during Memorial Day Week...

Summer will be here soon, which means you're already making plans to spend time out on the lake with friends and family. You want to be prepared for all the fun that's bound to take place, and have as little interruption as possible. This week, the best marine electronics manufacturing company has some great ideas for you to ensure a fun and fantastic time out on the lake this summer! Gear up for boating season with these accessory ideas: Bring on the Fun with Towables Everyone loves a little fun and adventure. Spend the day on the lake in style with some fun towables that will keep the laughter and smiles going all day long. Whether you prefer fast and furious or leisure water activities, there are plenty of towables out there to sate anyone's adventurous appetite. Don't Let Hunger Pull You Off the Lake You and your friends are bound to get hungry out on the lake after fun in the sun and splashing around. Don't just rely on chips to hold you over, or r...