Firstmate Controls

Fall is the best time to prepare for what you need to accomplish before winter sets in. Winterizing your boat is a sad time, but  Firstmate Controls  is here to help! We are the  best boat lift control manufacturer , and we create incredible accessories to make your dock more convenient and safer. So we have all the important tips you need to get your boat ready for the winter season. Keep reading to learn the vital steps you don't want to miss when you winterize your boat.  Drain All the Water You will need to drain the water from all the water systems on your boat. Open all the water spigots from the water tank and the hot water tank. Make sure you disconnect the hot water heater from electric before draining. Run all the faucets until the water tanks are empty. After the water has been drained, turn the pump off. Now you can add antifreeze to the water storage tank. Turn the pump back on and make sure the hot water fixture that is farthest away from the pump is op...

Our boats cost us a pretty penny. Not only to purchase them, but to enjoy them throughout the boating season, as well. The last thing we want to do is put our pride and joy in jeopardy, especially during the off season when it's not being used. Yet, every year, boat owners make the same mistakes over and over again, and come back in the spring to find their boat has been damaged over the winter months due to negligence and simple ignorance. It's a hard (and costly) lesson learned. So, before the real harsh weather of winter hits, Firstmate Controls wants to share with you 4 preventable winter disasters that you can easily avoid. 1. Preventing Freeze Damage If you leave a space heater running or a light-bulb burning onboard, you might think that this is a good way to keep from having to fully winterizing your boat. However, this is the number-one reason why boats stowed for the winter go up in flames. Instead of depending on an additional heat source to prevent freeze dam...

The cooler weather of fall and the fact that we've already seen snow 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. Why should you winterize your boat? Because the harsh weather of winter can be pretty rough on a boat and it's engine. Here are a few tips to make sure you're properly 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...

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...