Firstmate Controls

This week, May 16th - May 22nd, is National Safe Boating Week! Boating season is in full swing and the unofficial start to summer is this Memorial Weekend in several boating communities. Firstmate Controls produces the best boat lift controls and the best dock accessories on the market, all with the purpose to help keep you and your dock safe. Today we are talking about another important part of safety and boating... Becoming a licensed Missouri boater. Read on to learn whether or not you need to get a license and how to get officially certified. Who Needs a License? While anyone can take the official Boater's Education Course, it is only mandatory in Missouri for people born after January 1st, 1984. It's important to note that if you have a boater's license from another state, it will also be honored in Missouri. What is a License For? Some people think that you only need a Missouri Boating Certificate if you are driving a large boat. However, that ...

Imagine This... It’s Saturday morning, the cooler is full of beverages and food for the day, the kids all have their life vests on, the boat is clean and ready to roll out for a day of fun. Walking down to the dock everyone’s eyes are smiling thinking of spending a full day tubing, coving out, and cruising the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks. Dad hits the Firstmate Remote Control and lowers the lift… Everything is going perfectly, cooler is loaded, kids are in the boat, the boat starts up and dad backs the boat out of the slip… smiles from everyone in the boat.  Mishap #1 is coming soon, wait for it… The boat is cruising along and suddenly, the tube flies off the back of the back, (the rope broke) hits a wavebreak and deflates. The kids are crying, mom is screaming, and dad with the look on his face, turns the boat around and heads back to the dock. Luckily, with the Firstmate Remote Control heading back to the dock to pick up the spare isn’t such a chore. The lift is lower...

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...