Firstmate Controls

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...

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...

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...

Boating navigation rules are essential for every boater to know because they establish a consistent way to navigate safely and avoid collisions when two boats are crossing paths, are on course to meet head-on, or when one boat wishes to overtake another  Since collisions are the number one type of accident on the water, Firstmate Controls wants to share with you these basic navigation rules that all boaters should know. Passing Another Boat To overtake another watercraft going in the same direction, the craft being overtaken must maintain its course and speed. The passing watercraft must keep a sufficient distance to avoid a collision or endangering the other craft from its wake. Meeting Head-On Two watercrafts approaching each other head-on must alter their course to the right to avoid a collision. If the two watercraft are far enough to the left of each other, no change in direction is needed. Crossing Paths If two watercraft approach each other at a right angle, th...

Each year hundreds of lives are lost, thousands are injured, and millions of dollars of property damage occurs because of preventable recreational boating accidents. Too often pleasure outings turn tragic all because of carelessness and recklessness. While high-speed boating is a rush for many, it can be dangerous. You may be excited to get out on the water and get to your destination, you have a responsibility to yourself and to others around you to practice boat safety, especially when boating at high speeds. Take a look at some of the safety tips you should be following when boating at higher than normal speeds. Watch Your Speeds and Stability Running your boat at high speeds can create stability issues. Always keep an eye out for larger waves that can throw off your stability, and know whether the water ahead is rough or smooth before you drop the throttle. Keep an eye on the tachometer for any signs of instability. If the tach is jumping around, you may be losing stability....

Get ready for the boating season this year 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   *Featu...

When it comes to selecting your marine electronic equipment , many folks feel more comfortable working with people they know and trust. We understand this because we feel the same! So this week, we at Firstmate Controls want to give you a little insight on how we got started, and who you're working with when you purchase a Firstmate product. So, without further ado, let's take a look at what co-owner Julie Figura has to say! Q&A with Julie Figura Q: Can you tell us a little about Firstmate and your staff? A: "John is an electrical engineer by trade.  He began his career at St. Louis Music designing amplifiers; went on to satellite communications for Muzak.  He has a strong background in wireless communications – so when I initially was hurt (see last week's blog for the story), the Firstmate was a challenge/labor of love (no pun intended) to design.  We have had design partners to help enhance our product line for the last 15 years.  They include peopl...

The weather is finally turning nice enough to start thinking about de-winterizing your boat. With this exciting news comes the knowledge that if you're thinking about getting on the water, you can bet that others are too, which means the waters will soon become busy and rough. Since not everyone has the luxury of having their boat dock sitting in a quiet calm cove, your boat is likely to be subjected to rough waters from other boat wakes and weather causing water to swell and become rough. So, now is the time to be proactive in preventing against damage.  Firstmate Controls  has some tips on how you can prevent damage to your boat, dock, and lift! Properly Securing Your Dock will Prevent Expensive Damage Rough waters can cause a number of problems on the water, especially to docks. That's why it's so important to regularly inspect your dock for any potential repairs needed. What may seem like a small issue at the time could turn into a huge and costly problem down the ...

This year, the annual St. Charles Boat Show will be taking place on March 8-11 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 weight capacity, but several...

Get ready for the boating season this year 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 ...

One of America's favorite pastimes is hitting the water, casting a line and waiting for that big catch. And winter is 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...

Not everyone has the luxury of having their boat dock sitting in a quiet, calm cove. Many of us have our docks out in the open where they are subjected to rough waters from other boat wakes and weather causing water to swell and become rough. That doesn't mean we can't be proactive in preventing against damage.  Firstmate Controls  has some tips on how you can prevent damage to your boat, dock, and lift! Properly Securing Your Dock will Prevent Expensive Damage Rough waters can cause a number of problems on the water, especially to docks. That's why it's so important to regularly inspect your dock for any potential repairs needed. What may seem like a small issue at the time could turn into a huge and costly problem down the road. The last thing you want is to get a call from your neighbors saying your dock is floating downstream. Make sure to check the hardware on your dock and the cables securing your dock to land periodically and replace anything that is damaged...

There is without a doubt, no better accessory to have for your boat lift than a  boat lift remote control  system. With the many advantages it provides, investing in a 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 advantages of owning 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 l...