Firstmate Controls

This week is bound to be a busy one on the water with Independence day on the horizon. Boaters will be out in force to take in the extra days off they'll be enjoying and watching the firework shows by water. Since not everyone has the luxury of having their boat dock sitting in a quiet calm cove, your boat is likely to be subjected to rough waters from other boat wakes that are bound to cause the water to become rough. So, now is the time to be proactive in preventing against damage.  Firstmate Controls  has some tips on how you can prevent damage to your boat, dock, and lift! Properly Securing Your Dock will Prevent Expensive Damage Rough waters can cause a number of problems on the water, especially to docks. That's why it's so important to regularly inspect your dock for any potential repairs needed. What may seem like a small issue at the time could turn into a huge and costly problem down the road. The last thing you want is to get a call from your neighbors sayin...

Spring is here, which means boaters are going to be getting out a bit more frequently! This also means waters are going to get a little more rough as traffic ramps up. Many of us have our docks out in the open where they are subjected to rough waters from other boat wakes and weather causing water to swell and become rough. So it's essential to be proactive in preventing against damage.  Firstmate Controls  has some tips on how you can prevent damage to your boat, dock, and lift! Properly Securing Your Dock will Prevent Expensive Damage Rough waters can cause a number of problems on the water, especially to docks. That's why it's so important to regularly inspect your dock for any potential repairs needed. What may seem like a small issue at the time could turn into a huge and costly problem down the road. The last thing you want is to get a call from your neighbors saying your dock is floating downstream. Make sure to check the hardware on your dock and the cables s...

Boating navigation rules are essential for every boater to know because they establish a consistent way to navigate safely and avoid collisions when two boats are crossing paths, are on course to meet head-on, or when one boat wishes to overtake another  Since collisions are the number one type of accident on the water, Firstmate Controls wants to share with you these basic navigation rules that all boaters should know. Passing Another Boat To overtake another watercraft going in the same direction, the craft being overtaken must maintain its course and speed. The passing watercraft must keep a sufficient distance to avoid a collision or endangering the other craft from its wake. Meeting Head-On Two watercrafts approaching each other head-on must alter their course to the right to avoid a collision. If the two watercraft are far enough to the left of each other, no change in direction is needed. Crossing Paths If two watercraft approach each other at a right angle, th...

Each year hundreds of lives are lost, thousands are injured, and millions of dollars of property damage occurs because of preventable recreational boating accidents. Too often pleasure outings turn tragic all because of carelessness and recklessness. While high-speed boating is a rush for many, it can be dangerous. You may be excited to get out on the water and get to your destination, you have a responsibility to yourself and to others around you to practice boat safety, especially when boating at high speeds. Take a look at some of the safety tips you should be following when boating at higher than normal speeds. Watch Your Speeds and Stability Running your boat at high speeds can create stability issues. Always keep an eye out for larger waves that can throw off your stability, and know whether the water ahead is rough or smooth before you drop the throttle. Keep an eye on the tachometer for any signs of instability. If the tach is jumping around, you may be losing stability....

Not everyone has the luxury of having their boat dock sitting in a quiet, calm cove. Many of us have our docks out in the open where they are subjected to rough waters from other boat wakes and weather causing water to swell and become rough. That doesn't mean we can't be proactive in preventing against damage.  Firstmate Controls  has some tips on how you can prevent damage to your boat, dock, and lift! Properly Securing Your Dock will Prevent Expensive Damage Rough waters can cause a number of problems on the water, especially to docks. That's why it's so important to regularly inspect your dock for any potential repairs needed. What may seem like a small issue at the time could turn into a huge and costly problem down the road. The last thing you want is to get a call from your neighbors saying your dock is floating downstream. Make sure to check the hardware on your dock and the cables securing your dock to land periodically and replace anything that is damaged...

Every boat owner should have a good understanding of how their boat works, the function of each part of their vessel, how to address issues when they arise, and have a basic understanding of boating safety . One thing that many boaters don't know, however, is common boating terminology. And some of these terms you really should know without having to put much thought into it if you're going to own a boat. Why? Because being able to properly communicate with those on your boat in case of an emergency situation is very crucial. Plus, in the event that you need to call for help, knowing common boat terms will come in handy when speaking with dock staff and even the coast guard when the need arises. So here are 15 common boating terms every boat owner should know: Common Boating Terms 1. Bow Refers to the front end of a boat. (You can remember "bow" as the front, because when you take a bow, you're leaning forward.) 2. Stern Refers to the rear end of a boa...

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 long day out on...

Not everyone has the luxury of having their boat dock sitting in a quiet, calm cove. Many of us have our docks out in the open where they are subjected to rough waters from other boat wakes and weather causing water to swell and become rough. That doesn't mean we can't be proactive in preventing against damage. Firstmate Controls has some tips on how you can prevent damage to your boat, dock, and lift! Properly Securing Your Dock will Prevent Expensive Damage Rough waters can cause a number of problems on the water, especially to docks. That's why it's so important to regularly inspect your dock for any potential repairs needed. What may seem like a small issue at the time could turn into a huge and costly problem down the road. The last thing you want is to get a call from your neighbors saying your dock is floating downstream. Make sure to check the hardware on your dock and the cables securing your dock to land periodically and replace anything that is damaged ...