Quicksilver Blog

1st Mate Delivers Ultimate Boating Confidence and Safety

Feeling confident and safe is important when boating. 1st Mate® combines both feelings into an easy-to-use wireless package that enhances your enjoyment of the water with wireless convenience.

The 1st Mate Marine Safety & Security System utilizes an engine-integrated intelligent hub, a set of wearable fobs and a mobile app to provide wireless overboard alerts, distress messaging and theft-deterrent functionality. It’s compatible with all leading marine engine brands.

With its robust wireless protocol and fast response time, 1st Mate also provides a wireless alternative to the traditional mechanical emergency engine stop switch and lanyard.

Integrated Safety

The 1st Mate system consists of wearable fobs for the captain and up to seven passengers. The fobs sync with the 1st Mate engine hub and boaters’ mobile apps and ensure that if any person or pet with a fob falls overboard, 1st Mate will send a visual notification to all fobs, as well as the date, time and GPS coordinates of the overboard incident to anyone connected via the 1st Mate app.

Additionally, if the driver wearing the captain’s fob falls overboard, 1st Mate:

  • Immediately stops the engine(s)
  • Provides clear instructions on restarting the engine(s) to passengers running the 1st Mate app, along with a dynamic heading of the vessel to assist with returning to the location where the captain went overboard
  • Initiates the distress-messaging procedure (see Distress Messages below)

Wireless Alternative to Corded Cutoff Switches

1st Mate provides boaters with a wireless alternative to a corded engine cutoff switch that’s convenient to use and compliant with boating regulations. Its robust wireless protocol delivers similar emergency cutoff response time and vessel behavior in an overboard situation as a traditional mechanical emergency stop switch system with a safety lanyard.

The system complies with the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC®) standard A-33, which outlines requirements for emergency engine/propulsion cutoff devices. 1st Mate also complies with new U.S. Coast Guard regulations (H.R. 3409) requiring the use of an engine cutoff switch on certain recreational vessels. Be sure to always check your local regulations regarding engine cutoff devices to be sure you’re in compliance.

Distress Messages

With the Distress Message function configured within the app, if a boat captain (driver wearing the captain’s fob) falls overboard, a countdown timer begins. When the timer expires, 1st Mate sends a distress message to the emergency contacts designated on the captain’s 1st Mate app.

The distress message includes location, heading, date and time of the "man overboard" event. If the timer is cleared by the captain or any passenger before the countdown ends, no message will be sent.

If the captain or any passenger clears the "man overboard" event after the timer has expired, they have the option of sending a second message stating “I'm OK” to the same emergency contacts.

Theft Deterrent System (TDS) 

The 1st Mate Theft Deterrent System provides the option to lock the boat's engine(s) to prevent unauthorized use. When the captain is ready to get back behind the wheel, the engine(s) can easily be unlocked via the proximity of the captain’s wearable or by using the 1st Mate mobile app. The 1st Mate mobile app is available now in the Apple Store for iOS devices and in the Google Play App Store for Android devices.

With 1st Mate on board, confidence and safety are in the palm of your hand. For more information about the features and benefits of 1st Mate or to purchase, visit 1stmate.com.

 

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