Firstmate Controls

Winter may be cold, especially with the polar vortex hitting us, but it is also the perfect time for crappie fishing. In the spirit of getting out on the water this winter,  Firstmate Controls  is sharing with you some winter crappie fishing tips to help you catch your limit in no time. Take a look: Find the Hidey-Holes Crappie feed heavily in cold waters, and once you locate their preferred spot, you can anchor and easily catch your limit. The trick, however, is finding that sweet spot. Once water temperature falls, they can usually be found grouped together near boat docks, trees, stumps and brush piles. Crappie also generally stay in deeper waters during the winter, although they will move to shallower water if there is a string of warm days. If you’re using a depth finder, concentrate on the deepest areas. Follow the Shad Although you’ll catch more crappie near underwater structures such as brush piles and standing timber, the trophy catches follow schools of shad ...

Tomorrow starts the beginning of the annual  Overland Park Boat Show  at the Overland Park Convention Center. Firstmate Controls will be there showcasing our state of the art  boat lift remote control systems ! This is one boat show you don't want to miss! Come check out an abundance of boats and boating accessories from all over the state. And be sure to stop by our booth to check out our products and say hello! All attending vendors have one common goal in mind: to promote fun on the Lake! This event showcases products like cruisers, runabouts, performance boats, tritoons, ski boats, personal watercrafts, docks, lifts and all boating accessories etc. in the Marine & Boat industry. Event Information Presented By: Overland Park Convention Center Dates: January 24, 2019 - January 27, 2019 Location: Overland Park Convention Center Address: 6000 College Blvd. Time: Thursday: 3:00 pm - 9:00 pm Friday: Noon - 10:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm Sunday: 10:00...

As you're longingly staring out at the water wishing you could be out there enjoying a beautiful sunny day on your boat, you're probably trying to come up with something to bide the time. There's no better time to brush up on your boating knowledge and skills than now! So to help you become a better and safer boater,  Firstmate Controls  is sharing with you 5 knots to learn this winter! Take a look: 1. Anchor Hitch (Anchor Bend or Fisherman's Hitch) Knot This is a great knot to use when tying an anchor line to an anchor. It's also a top used fisherman's knot, so it's got multiple good uses. The knot is very similar to a round turn and two half hitches except that the first half hitch is passed under the turn. This knot holds well even when tension on the line is changing. (Source: AnimatedKnots.com) 2. Carrick Bend Knot The carrick bend is a knot used for joining two lines. It is particularly appropriate for very heavy rope or cable that is...

Many of us boaters have already pulled our boats from the water, but wishing we hadn't just yet with this mild winter we're having so far. If you've got cabin fever already and are looking for any possible excuse to visit your boat this winter, we've got some boating projects for you to take care of while your boat's out of the water. 1. Clean Your Boat Thoroughly While you've probably kept your boat pretty clean throughout the boating season, you can't truly give your boat the deep clean it deserves until you pull it out of the water for winter. Now is the time to give your engine compartment a good cleaning and change out the oil absorbs. Recover your worn out cushions. Organize loose items in your lockers and cabinets into plastic totes and waterproof trays. 2. Fix Any Fiberglass Damage You can easily fix many scratches and nicks in a fiberglass boat. Fix stress cracks, dock dings and other fiberglass injuries to the best of your ability while y...

‘Tis the season to make New Year’s resolutions! But if you've ever attempted to make a resolution in the past, you may have noticed that most resolutions relate to changing bad habits or attempting to change negative aspects of your life. As boaters who know the importance of living happy,  Firstmate Controls  thinks it’s time to put a more positive spin onto this time honored tradition and create a list built to bring out the positive aspects of your life. Check out our list of New Year's resolutions you'll actually WANT to keep! Spend More Quality Time with Family and Friends Consider the amount of time you spend at work every week. Now consider the amount of time you get to spend with your family and friends. Is there a healthy balance? Probably not. By the time we get home from work, most of us are too exhausted to give our family and friends the full attention that we'd like to give. We always say we'll make up for that time by planning a vacation or weeke...