Firstmate Controls

As summer starts winding down over the next month, it's a great time to bring the dog out on the boat with you and the family! Firstmate Controls knows that having your fur baby with you for a fun day on the water can make it an even greater time. If your dog is well-trained and you take a few precautions, a day of boating with your dog can be an enjoyable time with no mishaps. Keep reading to hear from our expert team of boat lift control manufacturers on how to keep your pup safe through the rest of this summer.  Get Familiar with the Boat Before leaving, get your dog used to the boat. Let them on the boat while it is docked several times before going out to reinforce that it isn't a scary thing. Turn it on and off to help them get used to the noise as well. For the first several excursions, don't venture far and keep the boat at a slower pace. Even though it may feel like a long process, it will pay off in the long run to make sure your dog feels safe and secure...

With a lot of major travel plans being put on hold, a great alternative option can be taking a road trip to a beautiful lake in the Midwest. Not only is it a great and beautiful experience, but it can also be safer than some other larger trips this year. Traveling by car, boating across the beautiful water, and feeling the fresh breeze on your face are all great ways to stay away from crowds and enjoy nature. Keep reading to learn from our team at Firstmate Controls about five great lake destinations in the Midwest to visit this year! Wisconsin - Lake Winnebago One of the most popular boating areas in inland Wisconsin is Lake Winnebago. Thirty miles long and 10 miles wide at its extremes, the lake is dotted with towns having familiar names like Oshkosh, Appleton, and Fond du Lac, which, for the sake of conversation, is home to inboard and outboard builder Mercury Marine. Public water access is particularly good here, with a state park and a handful of county parks scattered ar...

The heat of summer is here and there’s no better way to spend a warm day than out on the water! Our boat lift controls company wants to help offer some inspiration of fun new ways you can stay entertained this summer. Firstmate Controls can help you get out on the water faster to enjoy one (or more) of these awesome boating activities! Cove Out Coving out is one of the best ways to spend time soaking up the sun and truly living the lake or river life! Have a good old fashioned picnic on the beach along the shoreline or throw your anchor and float while you enjoy a meal. Pack all your essentials for lunch and find a spot to set up a picnic. Who knows? It may become your new favorite place to stop! Cast a Line 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 h...

Boating is a great activity to enjoy with the whole family! If you have young kids, then there are some important ways to help keep them safe during your day out on the water. Firstmate Controls has the tips you need to keep boating fun and safe for all ages. Keep reading to learn more! TEACH YOUR CHILD TO SWIM Kids should learn how to swim at a young age. Basic skills to teach include: how to float, how to tread water, and how to swim at least one hundred yards in different directions. Until your child has mastered these skills, you should refrain from boating in very deep water. SET SOME BASIC BOAT RULES Just as your children have rules when riding in the car, your boat should be no exception. Children need to understand and follow basic boat rules. Children should be told to keep their hands and feet inside the boat at all times. It is very easy for small hands and feet to get injured when youngsters attempt to stick them into the water. Never allow children to run aro...

Spending time out on your dock and boating on the water is an incredibly fun pastime at the Lake of the Ozarks. There are, however, a few things that you need to consider to make sure you, your boat, your lift, and your dock are safe all year long. Firstmate Controls is an expert on safety as the best boat lift control manufacturer in Missouri , and we are here for you. Keep reading to hear our tips on how to take care of your dock with proper safety precautions. Remove Any Debris Around the Dock Sometimes storms blow through and can cause a lot of leaves, twigs, trash, and even full tree trunks to float into your cove and get caught around your dock. If this is not cleared out, then your dock and lift could experience damage from the repetitive knocking against the sides. It could be even worse if you lower the lift without knowing a branch has lodged itself in between the lift and the dock. So, before you get started enjoying your time at the lake, make sure to remove any de...