Firstmate Controls

May 18-24 is  National Safe Boating Week ! From family friendly events at marinas to vessel safety checks, the goal of this important campaign is to raise awareness about responsible boating. More importantly, the goal is to encourage wearing life jackets when out on the water. So in honor of this very special and important national event, the  best recreational marine equipment company  is sharing with you some helpful and educational information about National Safe Boating Week and how you can spread awareness! Boating Incident Statistics You Need to Know According to the US Coast Guard Boating Safety Division, in 2015 the number one cause of death during a boating incident was drowning, with a staggering 428 deaths. 352 of those were reported to not be wearing life jackets. In Missouri alone, there were 17 persons killed and 70 persons injured in recreational boating crashes. This year so far, the Missouri Water Patrol has reported 50 boating/drowning incidents. O...

This year, the annual St. Charles Boat Show will be taking place on March 7-10 at the St. Charles Convention Center. You can bet  Firstmate Controls  will be there showcasing our state of the art  boat lift remote control systems ! Don't miss the opportunity to check out an abundance of boats and boating accessories from all over the state. The Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association is made up of over 40 Lake of the Ozarks area marine dealers, including the  best boat lift control manufacturer in Missouri ,  Firstmate Controls . All attending vendors have one common goal in mind: to promote fun on the water! We're Happy to Answer Your Questions Whether you have questions about your current boat lift, or have an interest in upgrading your  boat lift electronics  to make your boating experience more enjoyable, we'll be there to help. You may be wondering if our lift control will work with your boat lift size. Lifts are often categorized by...

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 ...

Get ready for next year's boating season by revolutionizing your hoist! Not sure what products will be best for properly  accessorizing a dock ?  Firstmate Controls  has some featured products that you'll love. We make shopping for dock accessories and  remote control systems  easy. 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. Manual Boxes Features: Full Port Valves  Handle Stops Standard Remote Features: Emergency Handles  Remote Controlled  Safety Valve Drivers Generation 3 Pro Features:  Faster Operation  Even Easier to Use  Emergency Handles  Remote Controlled  Safety Valve Drivers  Smart Controls  Lift Monitoring  Programmable Positions  Remote Lighting Option from Key Fob: Dock Lights, Ambient or Cove Theatre Lighting   *Features in...

You love spending time on the water, and enjoy entertaining guests on both your boat and dock. And there's no better time to take in the full beauty of nature than during the fall. When enjoying a fun-filled day on the water with friends and family, an accident on the dock is the last thing anyone wants to deal with. Common sense and proper precautions will help ensure a safe day on the water.  Firstmate Controls  has a few tips to ensure proper dock safety to help prevent dock mishaps. 1. Have Your Dock Inspected With the natural elements that a dock is constantly under, any number of problems and malfunctions can occur. So, an important step in maintaining a dock is to ensure proper installation and maintenance of electrical equipment on docks and on boats. Have a professional electrician inspect all of the electrical systems on or near the water and bring them up to code, and periodically check the dock cables for frays or breaks and replace any worn out or damaged c...

If you are lucky enough to have a boat to hit the rivers and lakes in Missouri, boating is probably one of your favorite pastime activities. There is no better feeling than spending a day out on the water with friends and family. Naturally, if you have children you will want to include them in your on-the-water fun. Firstmate Controls  offers some tips to make boating fun and safe when children are present: 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 around on a boat. The boat can be slippery and children can fall on deck or overboard. And teach your children to wait until the boat has stopped and the engine is turned off before jum...

Boating is one of many people's favorite pastime activities. When you are enjoying a warm summer day out on the water, nothing ruins your fun like inclement weather. Storms in Missouri, like the ones that have passed through this week, often come quickly and sometimes unexpectedly. When you are out on the water and it starts to storm, there are some things you should do for your safety.  Firstmate Controls  has some tips to keep you safe during inclement weather. Check the Weather Before you use your  remote control boat lift  to take your boat out on the water for the day, check the weather before you head out. You should get an idea of what the weather is going to do all day so you can plan accordingly. Storms can be dangerous when you are on the water, especially if lightning is the in the forecast. Having a smartphone on board is a good idea in case it starts to cloud up while you out because you can quickly check the radar. Keeping a constant eye...

With the many advantages it provides, investing in a Firstmate Controls boat lift remote control will be your most favorite purchase of all.  Firstmate Controls  has some of the best electronic marine equipment around. Let us give you some examples of the benefits of boating with Firstmate products for your boat lift control needs. 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've got to pull your boat out and moor it while you climb back off the boat to go raise the lift back up. Then you have to climb back in your boat without falling in the water. And guess what, you've got to do this whole crazy and time consuming dance all over again after a long day out on the water - NO THANK YOU! Get out on the water faster! With a  Firstmate Boat...

Life gets hectic and we forget to take time to just relax and do the things we enjoy doing. We find ourselves spending more time at work and struggling to balance our work and personal lives. Sometimes we lose track of the things that we love and don't know how to get away from the hectic schedules of our lives. But for those who love to boat, it's easy to find solace out on the water! Firstmate Controls is sharing with you some of the wonderful benefits of boating. BOATING CAN IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH There is proof that being near water can naturally help lower anxiety, leading to a healthier and more relaxed lifestyle. Boat trips keep you balanced. How many times have you become so consumed with work or school commitments that you neglected to set aside a day for some fun family boating? Going on a boat ride will help you keep your life in balance between work and play. And with proper use of sunscreen, a day in the sun allows our bodies to soak up a safe amount of Vitami...

When it comes to keeping your boat, lift and dock safe, you want the best boat lift remote control system on the market!  Firstmate Controls  has some featured products that you'll love. We make shopping for dock accessories and  remote control systems  easy. 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. Manual Boxes Features: Full Port Valves  Handle Stops Standard Remote Features: Emergency Handles  Remote Controlled  Safety Valve Drivers Generation 3 Pro Features:  Faster Operation  Even Easier to Use  Emergency Handles  Remote Controlled  Safety Valve Drivers  Smart Controls  Lift Monitoring  Programmable Positions  Remote Lighting Option from Key Fob: Dock Lights, Ambient or Cove Theatre Lighting   *Features included on all Firstmate Systems...

With the summer heat picking up, the best way to have fun and stay cool is to spend the day on the water.  There is nothing like a good day on the lake to keep the whole family entertained.  At Firstmate Controls , we are passionate about getting people out on the water.  We have compiled a list of our 7 favorite ways to enjoy a day on the lake or river that are sure to make your weekend a memorable one. 1. Go for a Cruise Take the boat out on the water and explore all your lake or river has to offer.  Whether you prefer a slow, romantic cruise or a fast-paced joy ride, either one is a fantastic way to spend the day.  One of our favorite activities is to find a cove or inlet and anchor for the afternoon.  Pack picnic lunches for the kids, or pack a cooler and link up with your friends for an impromptu boat party. 2. Grab a Paddle Taking out a kayak or canoe is a laid-back alternative to boating that allows you to get closer to nature and take the ...

When it comes to the safety of your boat and those who will ride on it, you want to make sure you're doing everything you can to prevent any damage or accidents. We as boaters know all too well how hazardous it can be to try to load and unload from your boat without an accident or injury taking place. That's why we came up with the  boat lift remote control system  - to make boating less work and more enjoyable and safe. Not sure a  Firstmate Boat Lift Remote Control  is for you? Check out what real boaters like you have to say about it! REAL CUSTOMER REVIEWS  “Of all the things I have bought at the lake, this was my best purchase!” ~ Tom S., Sunrise Beach, MO “Safety - with the remote system, there is no need to leave someone on the dock to raise the lift” ~ Jim H., Lake St. Louis, MO “Able to raise lifts to protect them when boating” ~ Ken E., Rocky Mount, MO “The Firstmate has operated flawlessly since day one. It’s one part of boating that...

Summer is HERE! As the weather gets hotter, you are probably looking forward to taking your boat out on the water at your first available opportunity. Before you get your boat out, you should think about some maintenance that might need to be done. Having a maintenance checklist to ensure your boat is in tip top shape could save you some trouble later in the season. Firstmate Controls has some tips on what you should look for before you take your boat out on the water. Batteries  Make sure your batteries work. If this is the first time taking your boat out for the season, it is possible that after sitting all winter your battery may have lost it's charge. You may just need to recharge it. You should also clean and tighten all electrical connections and battery terminals. Make sure to clean your battery terminals very well. If you have any corrosion on your battery, it could cause your boat to not start in the future. After you clean your battery terminals, coat the terminals w...