Firstmate Controls

As we are well into summer and boating season, we felt it was important to share some boating rules of the road and launch-ramp etiquette.  Ramp rage is a real thing and is often provoked by boaters who do not know the rules of the ramp, or worse, don't care that they are inconveniencing other boaters waiting in line.  So, this week, Firstmate Controls is sharing with you a few boat ramp etiquette rules to follow.  We hope these guidelines help you to avoid ramp rage from ruining your day on the water! Be Ready to Launch BEFORE Getting in Line There are a lot of things to check and recheck before launching your boat.  Waiting until you are in the middle of a long line at a busy boat ramp is not the time to perform these tasks.  When you pull into the parking lot, we suggest you move to the side and let others go ahead and dump their boats.  Put your plug in, take your straps off, take your motor toter off, plug in your graphs, put your lights in—wha...

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 favorite boat accessory purchase of all.  Firstmate Controls has some of the best electronic marine equipment around.  Let us give you some examples of why you should revolutionize your hoist by investing in Firstmate products for your boat lift control needs.  Keep in mind, we don't just have remote control systems, we also carry parts for servicing systems as well.  Check out our website for more products that we have in stock. 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 have to pull your boat out and moor it while...

Your pets are part of your family, so naturally, you want to include them in all your family activities.  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 out the tips below! BEFORE BOARDING: Check Local Laws At this time, there are no national legal restrictions or requirements pertaining to having your furry friends aboard your boat, we recommend that you double-check local laws, since regulations can vary by state. Develop a Safety Plan Before leaving on your first doggy-boating adventure, we recommend that you develop a safety plan in case your dog was to go overboard.  Talk to all of t...

The sun is shining, the weekend is here and it’s time to hit the lake! You’ve packed your cooler and sprayed the kids down with sunscreen, what else could you be missing? While boating is a great summer past-time, the water fun can be dampened by being unprepared. Here are some tips from Firstmate Controls on how to effectively prepare for a fun and safe weekend on the lake! Float Plan  A floating plan is a document that boaters should fill out prior to their day on the water that includes information like: who the passengers are, vessel identification, planned destinations and a general timeline. An easy way to do this is to leave a float plan with the vessel information with someone you trust and then you can just call and update them when taking the boat out with the specifics regarding passengers, destination and time. While a float plan may seem like a lot of work, it’s always smart to be cautious while planning a day out on the water. You can even find easy downloadabl...