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Chris Riley

Lifestyle Editor Expertise: Boating | Water Sports | Outdoor Lifestyle Highlights: Experience: Chris Riley is a Lifestyle Editor and founder of Boatsafe.com, specializing in boating, outdoor sports, and hobbies. Chris heads up a team of industry research experts, curating a comprehensive platform and industry anchor. Boatsafe.com caters to professionals and passion hobbyists alike. Chris’ experience on the water spans his life and career, with sailing, fishing, surfing, and diving as his prime passions. He’s combined digital-research with his sailing and water-sports expertise, to curate the best in gear, boats, gadgets, and nautical knowhow for his international readership. Based in Rogers, Arkansas, Chris lives in the Ozarks and is surrounded by the Buffalo and Mulberry River, not far from Beaver Lake. When he’s not putting outdoor enthusiasts at the helm of their passions, you can find him on, under, or alongside the water. Education: Chris’ entrepreneur-ship sailed at age 12. Since then, he’s captained innovative projects, navigating his prime passions: sailing, water sports, and outdoor living. He received a first-hand education in boating and water sports, sailing to over 50 islands and travelling to 70 countries. He has his Advanced Open Water PADI Certification.

Articles by Chris Riley

Best Ice Fishing Lines

Best Ice Fishing Line of 2023: Review and Buying Guide

Ice fishing habitats present more adverse conditions such as extremely cold water; therefore, you require specialized lines. There is a wide range of specialized monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided lines for ice fishing on the market. Each presents its pros and cons that you should consider when deciding which one to buy. Below is a review…

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Bass Fishing and Lure Selection

Best Bass Lures – Top 5 Picks for Beginners and Pros

Some people like collecting stamps. Others spend a lifetime collecting wine. Others are obsessed with their coin collection. Seasoned anglers like to collect bass lures. Seriously, we know people with hundreds upon hundreds of every kind of bass fishing lure you can think of, and understandably so. One afternoon on the water with those babies,…

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Fish With Teeth That Will Surprise You

Catching a fish is a wonderful feat that many of us tend to be proud of. Most often, we are familiar with the fish we catch, and we know how to handle and manage them well. But what if you come face-to-face with a fish you are not very familiar with? Some anglers may not…

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Apple Brand Garde Rain & Stain Water Repellent

12 Best Waterproofing Sprays for All of Your Outdoor Gear

The sale of camping equipment and outdoor gear has been steadily rising in the United States for years now. Manufacturers are consistently working to bring outdoor enthusiasts a wide variety of products designed to enhance our camping, hiking, mountain biking, and other outdoor experiences. Whether this means an expertly designed backpack that can hold all…

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Top 8 Best Snorkeling Spots in Hawaii

8 Best Snorkeling Spots in Hawaii

Hawaii is a tourist paradise and ranks high among the best destinations for snorkeling. No matter what part of the island you plan to visit, make sure to bring your snorkel. Many snorkeling sites have protected marine life, so you can see lots of fish, turtles, dolphins, and even humpback whales. Hawaii offers lots of…

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Best Saltwater Spinning Reels

Best Saltwater Spinning Reels of 2023

Saltwater habitats are a harsh fishing environment. The saltwater easily corrodes spinning reel materials that are not corrosion-resistant or waterproofed. Generally, saltwater territories are deep, and saltwater fish species are typically bigger than freshwater fish. As a result, every spinning reel you come across is not suitable for saltwater fishing; you require a strong, corrosion-resistant…

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Best Canoe for Recreational Use

Best Canoes of 2023 for Recreational Use

Even if your last trip in a canoe took place at a 1990s summer camp, it is never too late to jump back into this favorite American pastime. Canoeing goes hand in hand with our love of camping and hiking in the great outdoors. The canoe industry offers everything from basic canoes for beginners to…

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Best Outboard Motors

Best Outboard Motors in 2023

It’s no secret that outboard motors are evolving at the pace of the Nile crocodile, not only dating back to the early Pleistocene but also minimal updates for the 2019 model year. However, lately, there’s been immense action from nearly all major manufacturers, ranging from Suzuki, Mercury, and Evinrude, to Yamaha. With a multitude of…

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Best Oil to Fry Fish

Best Oil to Fry Fish: How to Choose

If you don’t use the right type of oil to fry your fish, the fish can turn greasy or leathery, which is the last thing you want to have happened. So, what’s the best oil to fry fish? Keep reading to learn about all the things you need to know when frying fish, all the…

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Man Holding Bass Fish

How to Fish for Bass: Beginners Guide

Bass fishing is arguably America’s most enjoyable marine sport with a cult-like following growing in numbers and loyalty. Everybody wants in, and the newbies are often left out, not understanding the jargon and too meek to ask out loud. They make it look easy on TV shows and tournaments, but more goes into the actual…

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5 Best Sun Hats for Men in 2023

Spending time outdoors is important, but it exposes you to dangerous rays from the sun that can cause cancer, damage the skin, or lead to premature aging. Statistics from the Skin Cancer Foundation indicates that no fewer than two people die of skin cancer in the United States per hour. Thankfully, wearing a hat is…

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Best Lanterns of 2023 (Review and Buying Guide)

A good quality lantern is essential for maneuvering the planned or emergency nights. It can be used for a fun outdoor night picnic in your backyard, camping, hiking, or to get you through an unexpected outage. Below is a review of the best lanterns on Amazon and a buying guide to help you choose the…

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Reviewing The 10 Best Waterproof Backpacks of 2023

A backpack is the daily bag of choice for many people in the world. It’s hard to beat the convenience of a great backpack when it comes to storage space, and of course, their comfort and ease they provide carrying possessions around. Whether you’re an avid backpacker, city commuter, or need a waterproof option to…

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Wagan Tech 6244 Thermoelectric Cooler

Best Thermoelectric Coolers for 2023 Reviewed

A thermoelectric cooler is an iceless cooler suitable for bringing along in your RV or car to keep your food and beverages cool. They are a great go-between option for mini-fridges and ice coolers. Their top advantages include low noise, compactness, lightweight, and portability. On the downside, they rely on ambient conditions to regulate the…

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Finding the Best Snorkeling Spots in the Florida Keys

The ocean is vibrant and full of life, which is interesting to observe, capture and document. Whether you are a marine biologist doing it for science or you are just about capturing beauty and wildlife, the reason we go on safari, you will need access underwater for a frontline seat. Snorkeling enables you to witness…

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Jazzmm AM FM Portable Radio Battery Operated

Best Portable AM FM Radios of 2023

When boredom strikes, it’s always a pleasure to listen to good music and the news. Music calms the soul and can excite a party, while we need our daily news dose to stay connected. Since we’re already in a new era of technology, many of us turn our phones into convenient radios. The issue with…

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Dugong vs Manatee

Dugong vs Manatee – What’s the Difference?

In 1493, the explorer, Christopher Columbus, wrote in his journal that he has quite clearly seen three “mermaids” rise out of the sea. His issue was that these mermaids weren’t quite as beautiful as folklore seemed to portray them. According to his account, the mermaids he saw had some “masculine traits on their faces.” Turns…

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Squid vs Octopus

Squid vs Octopus: What’s the Difference?

Can you categorically differentiate between a squid and an octopus? Don’t worry; you would be forgiven for confusing one for the other. This is mostly because squids and octopuses have similar physical attributes from that prominent head to those tentacles and even their swimming mannerisms. That, however, does not mean that they are one and…

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Best Gravity Water Filters of 2023 Reviewed

A gravity water filter is an amazing piece of technological ingenuity. It allows you to filter contaminated or polluted water using gravity. It doesn’t need electricity or plumbing to run. Simply pour in your unpurified water in the top chamber of the unit, and it transforms it into clean, filtered water by the time it…

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Sit In vs Sit On Kayak

Sit In vs Sit On Kayak: What’s the Difference?

Although varied in design, construction, and uses, kayaks have just two main types: sit-inside (typically known as sit-in kayaks) and sit-on-top kayaks. While they both will keep you afloat and provide you with some excellent fishing opportunities, they are very different boats designed to suit particular paddler needs. Also Read: How to Choose a Kayak…

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Best Rain Pants

Ranking The Best Rain Pants of 2023

Having the best rain pants should be a goal of every outdoor adventurer’s wardrobe. Not only will rain pants keep you dry when it starts to rain, but they also will hold in valuable body heat and cut the wind to keep you warm and safe. We’ve put together a list of some of the…

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Canoe vs Kayak: What’s the Difference?

People have been using canoes for thousands of years. While we can’t say for sure how many thousands of years, archeologists have recently discovered the remains of a dugout canoe dating back 8,000 years, so it goes to reason that canoes have been around for much longer than that period. On the other hand, Kayaks…

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Best Swimbaits for Bass

Best Swimbaits for Bass: The Ultimate Guide

Whether you’re an experienced angler looking to score a trophy largemouth, or a beginner trying their hand at bass fishing, the one thing you need to have before you head out is a swimbait. These particular lures have earned a reputation for landing some of the biggest trophy fish you’ll ever see. Why spend your…

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10 Best Swim Goggles of 2023 Reviewed

Whether you’re using an indoor pool for a swimming workout or prepping for the next triathlon season and heading to open water, the one thing you can’t do without is your swim goggles. Swim goggles not only protect your eyes from irritants like saltwater and chlorine but also allow you to have enhanced vision under…

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5 Best Water Socks

Rating The 5 Best Water Socks of 2023

Whether you engage in aquatic activities for recreation, fishing, hobbies, or sports, safety and comfort should always be on top of your priority list. Reliable gear and equipment are some of the things you should look into when you plan your upcoming water activities. With that being said, having the right footwear is just as…

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Rating The 7 Best Shampoos for Swimmers

Swimming is a great way to get a workout. Whether you are a professional athlete or a recreational swimmer, the pool is a great place to relax. However, staying in the swimming pool for long durations can leave your hair dry and brittle. Your hair may even have a weird smell and damage easily after…

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Person Holding Fishing Reel

How to Put Fishing Line on a Reel: A Step-by-Step Guide

It’s no secret that a spinning reel is one of the most versatile fishing tools that exist and is considerably easier to use than the baitcasting counterparts. With spinning equipment, introducing line twists as you spool up a reel is a walk in the park. Whether you need to restring your fishing reel or your…

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Best Ice Fishing Rods

10 Best Ice Fishing Rods of 2023: Review and Buying Guide

An ice fishing rod is essential equipment to have for fishing during extremely cold weather. They are about 18-42-inch long jigging rods that produce light to medium action. Although the fundamental structure is the same, there is a wide range of modern ice fishing rods on the market. The variety can make narrowing down to…

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Best Fishing Line for Bass: Pro Angler Picks

There’s a thin line (literally) between coming home empty and landing a big catch, as far as bass fishing is concerned. That line is your fishing line. In the past, anglers had only a few line types that essentially included frayed and brittle monofilament options. Fortunately, the modern angler has a wide variety of choices….

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NAUI vs PADI

NAUI vs PADI: What You Need to Know About SCUBA Certification

Scuba diving is one of the most exhilarating hobbies for ocean lovers. Imagine coming face to face with all that the world’s largest water bodies have to offer as opposed to just watching them on NatGeo?! That’s exactly what you get when you go SCUBA diving, a peek into a world not our own but…

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