Firstmate Controls

We've got another spectacular holiday weekend coming up, which means boaters will be coming out in force to celebrate! We want all who go out to celebrate this Fourth of July on the water to take boating safety seriously. This week, Firstmate Controls will be focusing on sharing ways to stay safe in rough water conditions. Take a look: Check your Vessel Thoroughly Before heading out on the water, it's important to make sure your boat systems are functioning properly. Make sure your gas tank is full, and that you know where your nearest fuel stations are located. Make sure your battery is holding charge as it should. Check the navigation system and lights to make sure they're working. Be a Defensive Driver There will be a lot of boats on the water, and unfortunately, not all of those boat operators will be giving their full attention to their surroundings. It is your responsibility to keep an eye on other boaters and your surroundings and to act accordingly to ensu...

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 ...

The sun is shining and it's a beautiful day to get out on the water! But what to do once you're there? Sure, you could just idle your way downstream and enjoy soaking up the sun. But when there's so many other activities you could be doing instead, why wouldn't you take advantage of the opportunity? Firstmate Controls has some great boating activities for you to try out - check them out! Spend the Afternoon Fishing You already know how the fishing is at your normal go-to spot. Spend the day visiting different fishing spots, or you can simply drop anchor at a new spot to see what you can catch. You never know, you may stumble upon a sweet spot and catch some of the biggest fish you've ever caught! But even if you don't come home with anything, the day is not wasted when you get to spend time on the water casting a line. Get Adventurous with Water Sports Going out on the boat doesn't have to mean just sitting on the boat. There are plenty of adventu...

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...