Firstmate Controls

  The weather outside might be frightful, but this is the perfect time to get prepared for next year's boating season! Have you found yourself daydreaming or spending time staring out at the water reminiscing about the great times you had on the water this past season?  Firstmate Controls understands your frustration. We want to share some great ideas to occupy your time during these cold winter months that will get you excited and ready for next year's boating season! Inspect Your Life Preservers Lifejackets that don't get used much and spend most of their time tucked away in the wells of your boat may not be in as good of shape as they should be. Even though they might not get used that often, they still need to be in top shape if there were an incident that arises that you will need to use a lifejacket. If yours aren't in good condition they're not going to be much help in saving a life. Take time to visually inspect every lifejacket for rips, tears, holes, etc.

Meetings, deadlines, and long work hours can have a significant impact on our daily lives, leaving us wondering when we'll ever get a chance to truly enjoy life. Many people are now spending more time at work and struggle with ways to balance their work and personal lives. Now that many of us are working from home, it is even harder to look out the window and see your boat seemingly calling out to you to go for a ride! For those of us who love to boat, there is comfort and solace on the water! Check out why Firstmate Controls feels that boating is the perfect way to relax, and rejuvenate and can be good for the soul. BOATING IS AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE When you take your boat out for a day of adventure, you have the opportunity to broaden your range of experiences by trying different types of water sports like fishing or water skiing. Learning new boating skills can be an empowering and educational experience. When you are boating, you will always have the opportunity to learn so

  One of the best perks of buying a boat lift remote control system from Firstmate Controls is the stellar customer support that you get. Not only do we have a user-friendly support request option online, but we provide instructional videos and printable user guides on our website as well. Still unsure? Just pick up the phone and call us to speak to one of our experienced technicians! To provide excellent customer service, you need to also provide user support in ways that our consumers will best understand it. That's why we offer several different methods of instructional and troubleshooting support options available on our website. Here are some examples of how  Firstmate Controls  can quickly assist you with questions, installations, and troubleshooting issues. Firstmate Controls Product Information  Overview Firstmate Controls provides detailed information about each system we manufacture so making a selection is quick and easy. You can quickly view all of the features each s

  Whether you are new to the boating life, or an experienced boater, the need for a good understanding of boating terminology is a vital necessity. Knowing how your boat works, the function of each part of the vessel, how to address issues when they arise, and a basic understanding of boating safety  is knowledge every boat owner should have.  Being able to properly communicate with those on your boat in case of an emergency situation is crucial to the safety of everyone on board. In the event that you need to call for help, knowing common boat terms will come in handy when speaking with dock staff and even the coast guard when the need arises. Firstmate Controls knows the importance of boating safety and would like to share with you some common boating terms every boat owner should know. COMMON BOATING TERMS: HULL: The Hull is the bottom part of the boat that sits partially in the water. With a V-hull boat, the hull is made of fiberglass and shaped like a V. With a pontoon boat, the

Firstmate Controls is proud to be the number one choice in remote lift controls. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional service and products and have done so for over 20 years! Since we introduced our initial Firstmate ® concept at the St. Louis Boat Show in 2001, our company has grown, not only in the marine industry but in the drive-thru, trucking, and communication industry as well. Safety is first and foremost when developing our products, along with a convenient system to get you and your passengers on and off your boat with ease.   Located in Labadie, Missouri, our manufacturing facility builds your system from the ground up when you place your order. Using a corrosion-resistant aluminum frame design for the base, your system goes through extensive testing by our knowledgeable quality control staff as it works its way down the production line. Electronic components are tested in pre-production and again prior to shipping. Before your specific product leaves our facility, yo

There isn’t a better product to own than a boat lift remote control system if you own a boat lift. As a boat owner, there are many advantages of investing in a boat lift remote control and it will be undoubtedly your favorite purchase of all time. Firstmate Controls has the best electronic marine equipment in the Midwest. In this week’s blog, we will give you 3 reasons to own Firstmate products for your boat lift needs. Save Money by Reducing Dock Expenses Boat lifts definitely pay for themselves over time by increasing the value of your boat. Not only will you increase the value of your boat, you will also reduce the maintenance costs of your boat lift, dock, and boat repairs by having a Firstmate Control system. The truth is owning a boat, dock, and lift can be very expensive over time. Wouldn’t it be worth it to reduce those costs by installing the best boat lift control system on your dock? By owning a Firstmate Control boat lift remote control you will make docking and launching

Start your Holiday wish list at Firstmate Controls this year with products designed to accessorize and organize your dock in style! Our Bracket Buddy products will help get your dock organized without drilling holes! Bracket Buddy products are easy to install, community dock friendly, made of stainless steel, and corrosion resistant, allowing you to change your mind - change your dock and change your accessories! The Bracket Buddy allows you to accessorize your dock with no damage. There is no need to drill holes in your dock posts as the universal brackets fit 2" or 2.5" dock posts making them perfect for almost any dock, both private and commercial. Being made of stainless steel, the brackets provide long-lasting reliability and can be mounted in less than five minutes. They are easily moved when you need to relocate since they are not permanent fixtures attached to your dock. With all this being said, we would like to share some of these accessories with you so you can

Veterans Day is an important holiday worth observing, whether you have served in our military, or know someone who has. This national holiday is held on November 11th in the United States to honor those who have served in our armed forces. Firstmate Controls understands the importance of this holiday and would like to share some fun facts surrounding this day. HOW THE HOLIDAY GOT ITS NAME On November 11, 1919, then President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed this day to be "Armistice Day" as it marked the end of World War I a year earlier, and was later declared an official holiday in 1938. The holiday was later changed to Veterans Day by then President Dwight D. Eisenhower to acknowledge veterans who had served prior to and after the First World War. CONFUSION ABOUT THE HOLIDAY Often confused with Memorial Day, which is a holiday to remember and honor those who gave their lives for our country, Veterans Day is the time to recognize all veterans, both living and deceased. If you no

Safe, reliable, and easy to use! Our Firstmate boat lift remote control system is one of the best investments you can make for yourself, your watercraft, and your dock! For over 20 years, Firstmate Controls has made it our top priority to provide exceptional service and quality products for making your time on the water a safe and enjoyable experience. Our reliable boat lift remote control system is designed to keep your lift operating safely and effectively. We would like to share with you some of the benefits of owning our Firstmate products yourself! INVESTMENT PROTECTION Your boat and PWC are valuable investments and should be treated with the care and respect they deserve. Having a boat lift keeps your watercraft secure out of the water, protecting it against damage, minimizes the risk of theft, and saves you time and money. A quality boat lift will extend the life of your watercraft and its equipment. Having our boat lift remote control system is key in protecting your lift and w

Fall is in full swing here in the Lake of the Ozarks , which means colder temperatures, wind, and rain. Although it's getting colder, the bass fishing is just getting warmed up! To the average American, Fall doesn't seem like the ideal time to head out on the water and try to catch fish! Fall is the time for watching football, or setting up in a hunting blind waiting for the perfect deer to score. However, the anglers know that this is the time of year that the bass will be feeding up as water temperatures continue to drop, making it the perfect time to cast a line and reel in those fish. Catching the perfect big bass is quite tough at times, but knowing where to look and what lures to use can help you with the quality and quantity of the bass you can reel in this Fall The cooler water temperatures of the lake in the Fall trigger a feeding frenzy for bass. After lazing in the deep-water spots of the lake during the hot months of summer, the bass are known to follow baitfish to