Firstmate Controls

Boats are already a pretty expensive hobby without considering unexpected maintenance issues that might arise. These days everyone is trying to conserve money, and we don't blame them. We do the same, but in our own little ways. We're of course not going to forego our favorite pastime activity just to save a few dollars, but we do have some suggestions on how to prevent spending money unnecessarily by preserving the life of your boat engine. Take a look at the four tips  Firstmate Controls  recommends to make your boat engine last longer. 1. Idle Speed to Warm It Up  Don't get too eager to take off so quickly. Long idles are actually good for our engines. Cold oil doesn’t flow well compared with warm oil. That resistance to flow isn’t as good at protecting engine components, and believe it or not, that resistance actually puts a strain on things like the oil pump and the mechanisms that drive it. Avoid premature wear by letting the engine warm up to operating temper...

Many of us are chomping at the bit to get out on the water, and in our excitement may forget to check over our boat before hitting the water. The last thing you want happening is to have the family packed up and ready to go only to find that your boat is having issues and the only place you're going is back to shore to figure out what's wrong.  Firstmate Controls  wants to make sure you and your boat are ready to hit the water. As long-time boaters and  wireless marine electronic experts , we know the struggles of boating mishaps that can take place if you don't properly prepare and maintain your boat before going out on the water. To avoid some of the common problems that boaters run into, we've put together a list of things that you should check before taking your boat out on the water every time. Inspect for Damage Your boat may have taken on some damage since the last time you used it, so inspect the hull and all other parts of your boat thoroughly. If you'...

Many of us are chomping at the bit to get out on the water. If you're anything like us, we're thinking boating season may have to start a little early this year! So in an effort to get you prepped to get out on the water this coming spring,  Firstmate Controls  wants to make sure you and your boat are ready to hit the water. As long-time boaters and  wireless marine electronic experts , we know the struggles of boating mishaps that can take place if you don't properly prepare and maintain your boat before going out on the water. To avoid some of the common problems that boaters run into every year, we've put together a list of things that you should do before taking your boat out for the first time. Inspect for Damage Your boat may have taken on some damage since the last time you used it, so inspect the hull and all other parts of your boat thoroughly. If you've taken your boat through shallow waters, there's a chance that some of its components may have ...

The cooler weather of fall has many boaters spending less time on the water. With the colder temperatures, it's probably time to start thinking about winterizing your boat for the winter if you're not going to be using it as often. Well, why should you winterize your boat? Because the harsh weather to come can be pretty rough on a boat and it's engine. So here are just a few tips you need to make sure you're doing when winterizing your boat. Care for the Battery It's easy to forget about your battery when taking care of maintenance, but it's important that you don't leave it unattended this fall. One of the main issues that boaters run into when breaking out their boat in the spring is dealing with a dead batter because they didn't take proper care during winterization. Avoid leaving your battery connected through the winter because although your boat isn't being used, your battery will get drained. Instead, disconnect your battery and remove it...

These days everyone is trying to conserve money, and we don't blame them. We do the same, but in our own little ways. We're of course not going to forego our favorite pastime activity just to save a few dollars, but we do have some suggestions on how to prevent spending money unnecessarily by preserving the life of your boat engine. Take a look at the four habits Firstmate Controls recommends getting into to make your boat engine last longer. Run Your Engine Regularly Letting your boat sit all year long without being run is good for your engine. Oil drains away from internal components and back into the pan, but running the engine every so often, even when you don’t have a chance to really use it, helps keep things in working order. Running the engine also gets the gas moving so it won’t just sit inside your fuel system and create varnish. It's also not a bad idea to run fuel stabilizer all summer long — not just during winter storage — to keep the fuel from getting ...