Firstmate Controls

Your dock is an important part of your spring and summer experience at the Lake of the Ozarks. Without it, your sunny days of boating, skiing, and swimming would be really different... and definitely not as fun. With all the work they do for us, docks can really take a beating and get worn down. As the best dock accessory manufacturer in the St. Louis area , Firstmate Controls knows just what it takes to keep a dock in top condition. Read on to learn why it's important to perform a dock check before the spring season begins! Why Docks Need Check-Ups Rough water conditions can take a big toll on your dock, the lift, and all its hardware, especially if you aren't in a protected cove. As large boats pas by and send waves into your dock over and over, it puts a strain on all the fittings of your dock. Eventually these pieces will wear out and break, so it's important to stay on top of how they are doing with regular check-ups. When to Schedule Check-Ups Now is a g...

You love spending time on the water, and enjoy entertaining guests on both your boat and dock. When enjoying a fun-filled day on the water with friends and family, an accident on the dock is the last thing anyone wants to deal with. Common sense and proper precautions will help ensure a safe summer on the water.  Firstmate Controls  has 5 simple tips to ensure proper dock safety and maintenance to help prevent dock mishaps. 1. Have Your Dock Inspected With the natural elements that a dock is constantly under, any number of problems and malfunctions can occur. So, an important step in maintaining a dock is to ensure proper installation and maintenance of electrical equipment on docks and on boats. Have a professional electrician inspect all of the electrical systems on or near the water and bring them up to code, and periodically check the dock cables for frays or breaks and replace any worn out or damaged cables. 2. Keep Your Dock Clear of Debris If you allow your dock...

While it may not seem like it due to the sporadic winter weather we've been experiencing, spring will be on its way soon! That means boating season isn't far off. 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 this spring. 1. 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 some damage from scraping. Check the rudder as well. If while transferring the boat the rudder has scraped the ground, it may have been bent which wo...

You love spending time on the water, and enjoy entertaining guests on both your boat and dock. And there's no better time to take in the full beauty of nature than during the fall. When enjoying a fun-filled day on the water with friends and family, an accident on the dock is the last thing anyone wants to deal with. Common sense and proper precautions will help ensure a safe day on the water.  Firstmate Controls  has a few tips to ensure proper dock safety to help prevent dock mishaps. 1. Have Your Dock Inspected With the natural elements that a dock is constantly under, any number of problems and malfunctions can occur. So, an important step in maintaining a dock is to ensure proper installation and maintenance of electrical equipment on docks and on boats. Have a professional electrician inspect all of the electrical systems on or near the water and bring them up to code, and periodically check the dock cables for frays or breaks and replace any worn out or damaged c...

You love spending time on the water, and enjoy entertaining guests on both your boat and dock. When enjoying a fun-filled day on the water with friends and family, an accident on the dock is the last thing anyone wants to deal with. Common sense and proper precautions will help ensure a safe summer on the water. Firstmate Controls has 5 simple tips to ensure proper dock safety and maintenance to help prevent dock mishaps. 1. Have Your Dock Inspected With the natural elements that a dock is constantly under, any number of problems and malfunctions can occur. So, an important step in maintaining a dock is to ensure proper installation and maintenance of electrical equipment on docks and on boats. Have a professional electrician inspect all of the electrical systems on or near the water and bring them up to code, and periodically check the dock cables for frays or breaks and replace any worn out or damaged cables. 2. Keep Your Dock Clear of Debris If you allow your dock to become...