Firstmate Controls

When you're enjoying a warm summer day out on the water, nothing ruins your fun like inclement weather. Summer rain storms 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 on the weather is a must to keep you safe when you are out on the water. Don't Risk Operating your Boat In Bad...

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 ...

This year, the annual Overland Park Boat Show will be taking place on January 4-7 at the Overland Park 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 Annual Overland Park Boat Show is brought to you by the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association. 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 4, 2018 - January 7, 2018 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 -...

The temperatures are cooling down, the leaves are beginning to change colors, and the rivers and lakes are seeing less and less traffic as boaters wind down for the year. While you may be getting ready to stash away your summer flip flops, there’s no reason your enjoyment on the water has to end! With the feeling of fall in the air, we thought we’d delve into what we love about the fall season. Picturesque Landscapes We all love being on the water in the hot summer heat and sunshine… but there’s something really special about cruising amongst the rich orange, red and yellow trees fall is known for, too! In most places, there will be a noticeable difference in the look of your surroundings in the coming months, so that’s something to look out for. Some boaters will even take their fall excursions a step further and plan a destination trip specifically to see these beautiful autumnal changes! Quality Time Between kids’ school days and your own work commitments, you probably have ...

We see them all over the place, beautiful powerboats, yachts, and sailboats proudly wearing sporting the much thought out name bestowed upon them. For boaters today, it's just the normal tradition of owning a boat. But for those who don't know much about boating, you're probably wondering why we go to such great lengths to come up with clever and meaningful names for our boats. Besides the obvious answer of "our boats are our babies", there's actually an entire history behind naming boats. So to better help those less avid boat enthusiasts understand the method behind our madness, Firstmate Controls , will gladly share with you some history behind boat naming.   History of Boat Naming The process of naming boats began thousands of years ago and was originally based on fear and superstition. As a safeguard from peril, most boats were originally named to honor a god seen as able to provide protection. By pleasing their gods with this honor, ancient Greeks...

This year, the annual LOMDA Fall In Water Boat Show will be taking place on September 22-24 at Captain Ron's Bar & Grill. 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 Lake! 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 weight capacity,...

The kids may be headed back to school and summer may be winding down for most... but us boaters aren't quite ready to call it quits for the season just yet. We water lovers know that boating season doesn't truly stop until the weather just doesn't permit us to get out on the water anymore. So, if you're looking for something boat related to do this weekend that's fun for the whole family, we've got just the thing for any boat loving enthusiast. This Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27 marks the 29th year for the Lake of the Ozarks Annual Shootout event! But that's not all... Check out more about how this awesome event got started, as well as other Shootout related events you can take part in this week! What's This Event All About? The Lake Rescue Shootout started in 1988 as an event in which many local boats participated simply to establish who had the fastest boat. As the years went by it became a bigger and bigger event that also helped supp...

Did you know it's National Fishing Month? This year, National Fishing Month goes from July 22nd through August 29th, not that we needed another reason to head out on the water to partake in one of our favorite pastimes. There's nothing quite as relaxing, enjoyable, and at times as exhilarating as fishing. From enjoying the peacefulness of being on the water, to bonding with friends, to catching a monster of a fish you can gloat about to all of your buddies, there's nothing quite like the sport of fishing.  Firstmate Controls  has some helpful hints to make sure your fishing experience is memorable and will be a great story to be told for a lifetime! Let's take a look: Do Some Research Before just taking out on the water with random bait and tackle that you've accumulated over the years, be sure to do some research on the fish you're aiming to catch. With heavy boat traffic and hot temperatures of the "dog days" of Summer, fishing conditions ma...

You love spending time on the water, and enjoy entertaining guests on both your boat and dock. 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 summer on the water. Firstmate Controls has 5 simple tips to ensure proper dock safety and maintenance 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 cables. 2. Keep Your Dock Clear of Debris If you allow your dock to become...

One of the best pastimes during the summer is spending as much time as you can out on the water! But if you don't have the right equipment for your dock and lift, you could be spending more time on the dock than you anticipated when you could already be out on the water. Not sure what products will be best for properly  accessorizing a dock  so you can get on and off the water faster?  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 Ha...

This summer get out and enjoy one of life's favorite pleasures, fishing! There's nothing quite as relaxing, enjoyable, and at times as exhilarating as fishing. From enjoying the peacefulness of being on the water, to bonding with friends, to catching a monster of a fish you can gloat about to all of your buddies, there's nothing quite like the sport of fishing.  Firstmate Controls has some helpful hints to make sure your fishing experience is memorable and will be a great story to be told for a lifetime! Let's take a look: Do Some Research Before just taking out on the water with random bait and tackle that you've accumulated over the years, be sure to do some research on the fish you're aiming to catch. Going out with catfish bait when you're hoping to reel in some large mouth bass isn't going to get you very far. By researching, you'll find that buzz-bait and live bait are most attractive to large mouth bass. Also, you need to know when ...

This summer you'll likely spend much of your free time out on the water, and we think that's fantastic! But how much work do you generally put into making your day on the water epic or keeping your boat and dock safe while you're not around to tend to it? With the enhancement of marine technology, your answer could be very little - meaning you're enjoying your boat more than fretting over it. Firstmate Controls has come up with a list of MUST-HAVE  marine electronic devices you need to install to ensure your boat and dock are secure, your time on the water is enjoyable, and your worries are minimal - check them out! Marine Stereo System Install a waterproof marine grade stereo system to your boat and dock to get the party started! There are several options for marine approved stereo systems loaded with features such as built-in bluetooth, AM/FM radio, USB drive readers, auxiliary jacks and much more to make listening to music on the water easy. From dock to bo...

With boating season getting started, Firstmate Controls wants to bring to your attention a very important campaign that kicks off this week. May 20-26 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 inju...