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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

10 Best Baitcasting Reels Reviews

10 Best Baitcasting Reels of 2024 Reviewed

Baitcasting reels are the way to go if you plan to take your fishing game to the next level. Every angler has varying preferences with regard to species, geography, and techniques. This means a baitcasting reel that may be best for one angler may not necessarily suit another. Without proper knowledge of baitcasting reels’ typical…

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Best Fluorocarbon Fishing Lines For 2024

All fishing enthusiasts understand the crucial role that their line plays. Regardless of the type of fish you’re targeting, or where you are, a good line is essential in reeling in your prize. Here’s where a fluorocarbon line comes into play. Although it’s pricier than other types of lines, as with everything else in life,…

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Wet Suit vs Dry Suit

Wet Suit vs Dry Suit: What is The Difference?

The ocean is a strange and fascinating place. Not only does it get darker the lower you go, but it also gets extremely cold. The temperature range is borderline insane from a comfortable 30 °C (86 °F) at the surface to a near-deadly −1 °C (30.2 °F) at the seabed. Unless you are a professional…

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21 Pitch Prop vs. 19 Pitch Prop

21 Pitch Prop vs. 19 Pitch Prop: Which Do You Need?

Your boat is very much like your car; without proper maintenance and the right parts, it will give you issues and might leave you stranded while out fishing for bass. The difference between your boat and your car is that the parts aren’t quite the same. While it will do you well to know how…

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Best Telescopic Fishing Rods of 2024: Expert Guide

Are you looking for a portable, convenient, and easy to use fishing rod? Telescopic fishing rods are a great option. Their main distinguishing characteristic is a collapsible design that makes them easy to pack and store. Some come as a rod and reel combo, while others are only available as rods. This article provides you…

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Best Beer Koozies in 2024: Review and Buying Guide

What beats a relaxing summer afternoon as you sip a cold beer? The killjoy for most people is that the high summer temperature makes beer go warm too fast. The solution to this challenge is using a fully insulated beer koozie. They are available in different sizes to fit the most common beer bottle and…

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Best Seiko Dive Watch

Ranking the Best Seiko Dive Watches of 2024

Seiko is one of the more reputable watch brands on the market today. It is not because they sell affordable watches, but because they have timeless designs equipped with long-lasting mechanisms. You get a high-quality watch for a slightly expensive yet still reasonable price. So, when it comes to dive watches, Seiko becomes our first…

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Pelican Catch 100

Pelican Catch 100 Angler Kayak Review

Kayaking is an effective and fun way of engaging in physical and recreational activity. Not only does it provide a low-impact workout, but it also enables you to immerse yourself in nature. It is a water activity that can be thrilling and exciting at the same time. It’s perfect if you want to explore and…

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Mask Squeeze

What is Mask Squeeze And How to Prevent It

While it is not life-threatening, mask squeeze can cause discomfort, and you might scare people with red-shot vampire-like eyes. You may experience mask squeeze when freediving, scuba diving, or snorkeling. Below is all you need to know about mask squeeze, how to prevent it, and what to do if you get it. What Is Mask…

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MotorGuide Xi5 Trolling Motor Review

Fishing is made easier when you are on the right boat. Quiet motors are important so that you won’t scare away the fish you are aiming to catch. The MotorGuide Xi5 is one of the best trolling motors on the market regardless of the water body you want to fish. The MotorGuide Xi5 is the…

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6 Best Crappie Lures Ever Made

Both white and black crappies are known to be fickle about what they eat. It is not uncommon for this fish to stubbornly prefer a jig of a specific shape, color, size, wiggle, or wobble, and they will do this for seemingly no reason, or at least for reasons that don’t make any sense to humans….

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A lure on a line over the water

8 Best Saltwater Fishing Lures Guaranteed to Succeed

Regardless of where you fish – offshore or inshore – the best lures are your surest way of bringing home a bountiful catch. If you use the wrong bait for saltwater fishing, your results might not be too far from less than impressive or even frustrating in many cases. But here’s the problem: what options…

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Best Rain Suits of 2024: Review and Buying Guide

A rainy day is not a sentence to stay indoors. You can still do your favorite outdoor activities such as motorcycle riding, cycling, fishing, running, gardening, or hiking as long as you have a good rain suit. There is a wide range available on the market. While some are versatile and can be used for…

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Couple in boat with trolling motor

Water Snake Trolling Motor Review

If you are going to buy a trolling motor, you probably want to buy one from a reliable brand. You know, a company that has a reputation of producing top quality products and has been doing so for a number of years now. In this niche, there are very few companies that make trolling motors…

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Best Waterproof Smartwatch

Best Waterproof Smartwatch of 2024: Review and Buying Guide

Smartwatches are relatively new in the consumer electronics industry compared to digital wristwatches. But these smart devices are skyrocketing in popularity. An estimated 20.1 million units were sold in the US in 2019 alone. The thing is, almost every piece of these smart timepieces are waterproof to some extent. Unfortunately, you can’t wear just any…

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Best Underwater Metal Detectors

Best Underwater Metal Detectors of 2024

An underwater treasure hunt can be fun if you have the correct hunting equipment. By that, we mean the best underwater metal detector. But with so many brands and models available, which should you pick for your scuba diving adventure? We’ve done some hunting ourselves, but not for treasures! We searched for the best underwater…

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Suunto 7

Ranking The Best GPS Watches for 2024

Smartwatches are not created equal. While some can include basic apps that will meet the everyday user’s needs, only a dedicated GPS sports watch will provide the type of useful data required to help elite and amateur athletes achieve their training goals. Apart from seamlessly interfacing with smartphones and providing basic notifications, the best GPS…

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Berkley PowerBait: Which Should You Use?

With so many artificial baits to choose from, it can be hard to know which ones are worth trying and which ones should be overlooked. Berkley PowerBait has been around for many years, but because there are so many options of artificial tackle to choose from, there are still many fishermen who have yet to…

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Best Fishing Canoe

Best Fishing Canoes of 2024

For some, fishing is a way of life. If you’re among this group, or even if you’re just a hobbyist, then you might be interested in the unique experiences offered by a fishing canoe. A canoe is a great way to slow things down, and an accessible way for anyone to head out on the…

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Ascend 10T

Ascend 10T Sit-On-Top Kayak Review

Kayaking is a great and affordable way to enjoy a day on the water while also getting in a workout. Kayaking is an ideal cardio routine for those who may want to switch up their workout regimen, especially on nice days. The Ascend 10T is a sit-on-top kayak that is stable, easy to maneuver, and…

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Ballyhoo Fish

Ballyhoo Fish 101: Ultimate Guide

There’s a good chance you have seen ballyhoo fish and likely not realized it. Ballyhoo fish are small halfbeak fish that skip across the water when being chased by predatory fish. Even though this helps the ballyhoo fish to escape, it also brings attention to other predatory fish nearby. This is bad news for the…

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Drown and suffocate are often used interchangeably when they really have two different meanings. To drown means to die from a lack of oxygen through inhaling water, typically due to being submerged in water. To suffocate means to die from lack of air or being unable to breathe. While they are similar emergencies that both relate to not having enough air, they are two completely different causes of death. This is why a fish technically can’t drown in water, but they can suffocate. Do Fish Actually Need Oxygen? When we hear the word “oxygen,” we typically think of it in its gas form in the air, but oxygen isn’t limited to just being found in the air. Oxygen is found in water (it’s the O in the chemical compound for water H2O), which is often overlooked because oxygen is not commonly associated with liquids as much as gases. Regardless, because fish are living organisms, they need oxygen. They just don’t need to get it in the same way we do. Fish get oxygen through water, and they can become sick if the water surrounding them is not oxygenated enough. Do Fish Have Lungs? Fish don’t have lungs the same way we do. Instead, they have gills. Gills are located on each side of a fish’s head shortly before coming to the first pectoral fin. The set of gills have blood capillaries which act as an oxygen receptor. When the capillaries receive the oxygen in the gills from the water, they absorb the oxygen into the bloodstream and trade it out with the excess carbon dioxide found within the fish. So, while fish don’t have lungs, they have a respiratory system similar to ours. What Are Labyrinth Organs? Labyrinth fish are finned freshwater fish that are in the Perch classification. They are called labyrinth fish because they have a labyrinth lung-type organ that allows them to breathe air. How Do Fish Breathe and Get Oxygen? Fish breathe by absorbing oxygen from the water through their gills. If there is not enough water to pass through the gills, the body of the fish (mainly the bloodstream) won’t get the oxygen it needs to survive. This can cause the fish to suffocate even while it is in water. If you are fishing in cold or deep water, it can be common to catch a fish that has a full swim bladder when it is pulled onto your boat. A swim bladder is an air bladder that contains oxygen and allows the fish to maintain its depth in the water. The swim bladder ultimately creates buoyancy and allows the fish to remain in the same place with little effort. When catching and releasing a fish that has a full swim bladder, the fish may not be able to return to the depths of water it was in before it was caught. This can ultimately lead to the fish being unable to get enough oxygen through its gills, causing the fish to suffocate even after being put back into the water. Some fishermen recommend squeezing the air from the air bladder to ensure the fish can return to the depths it was in before, as well as absorb the amount of oxygen it needs to survive. Can Fish Actually Drown? No, a fish cannot technically drown, but it can die in water due to suffocation. There are many reasons that this can happen. Reason #1: Damaged Gills Gills to a fish are like lungs to a human. We need them if we want to breathe, and damage can make breathing more difficult. A fish can suffocate if it has damaged gills because the gills won’t allow enough oxygen to enter the body and replace the carbon dioxide. Reason #2: Live Plants Taking Up Oxygen This is related mostly to aquarium fish. If you have many live plants in your aquarium, you may be inadvertently suffocating your fish. Live plants can take up oxygen and reduce the amount of oxygen found in the aquarium, so you’ll need to find ways to add oxygen back into the aquarium to protect the fish. Reason #3: Overcrowding This is another condition related to aquariums. If you have too many fish in your fish tank, your fish won’t be able to get the adequate amount of oxygen they each need. This can cause your fish to suffocate. Fish Suffocation and Drowning: Understanding the Difference and How it Happens Fish need oxygen to survive, and they get their oxygen through the oxygen in the water. When a fish dies in water due to a lack of oxygen, it is not considered drowning. Drowning occurs when your lungs fill with water and cause you to stop breathing oxygen. A fish needs to absorb water to be able to breathe, and they need that water to have oxygen. When the water doesn’t have oxygen, they suffocate, just like humans suffocate when we don’t breathe enough oxygen. So, while a fish can’t die from drowning in water, it can die from suffocating in water due to a lack of oxygen. How Do Fish Gills and Their Other Organs Work? Fish gills work by following this simple step-by-step process. 1. Fish absorb water through their mouths, gills, and other openings in the body. 2. The gills take the water and separate the oxygen from the carbon dioxide. 3. The oxygen from the water goes into the bloodstream of the fish and replaces the carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. 4. The absorbed water then exits the body of the fish through the other side of the gills and goes back into the water. The water's oxygen level must be higher than the oxygen level in the fish’s bloodstream for it to absorb oxygen. Signs of Low Oxygen in Water Having an aquarium is a great way to add enjoyment to your home. Low oxygen in the water is often a common issue among many residential aquariums. If you’re afraid your aquarium may have low oxygen, examine your fish for any of the following signs: ● Rapid gill movement/labored breathing ● Lethargic ● Eating less or not at all ● Staying at the top (surface) of the water more than usual or for most of the day These are tell-tale signs that there is low oxygen in the water. Failing to fix this will eventually cause your fish to suffocate. How to Improve Oxygen Levels in an Aquarium If you suspect your aquarium has too little or too much oxygen, you can fix it in the following ways: 1. Only stock the aquarium with the maximum number of fish allowed (or less). Too many fish will decrease the oxygen levels in the aquarium. This is why it is important to have no more than the maximum number of fish within the aquarium (the less, the better!). 2. Use long aquariums rather than tall aquariums. Oxygen is generated on the water's surface area, so the more surface area there is, the more oxygen will be created. 3. Use a bubbler, stream, or any other water movement tool within the aquarium. Bubbles are filled with oxygen, which is an easy way to get oxygen back into the tank and circulated throughout the water. 4. Make sure the temperature in the aquarium is correct. Aquariums that are too warm will typically have less oxygen than aquariums that are too cold. This can seem tricky, especially if you have an aquarium full of tropical fish. We recommend using a fan or an air chiller for those times when the temperature in the water creeps up higher than it should be. Conclusion The next time you hear someone say that fish can drown when they don’t get enough oxygen, you can tell them that it’s not that the fish drowned from lack of oxygen; it’s that the fish suffocated from lack of oxygen.

Can Fish Drown in Water?

Drown and suffocate are often used interchangeably when they really have two different meanings. To drown means to die from a lack of oxygen through inhaling water, typically due to being submerged in water. To suffocate means to die from lack of air or being unable to breathe. While they are similar emergencies that both relate to…

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Best Underwater Scooter

Best Underwater Scooters of 2024

In this article, we’re checking out one of the coolest aqua gadgets in the world – the underwater scooter. Have you ever dreamed of jetting around underwater like a dolphin? Well, that’s a very specific dream, but it’s possible! An underwater scooter is a handheld tool that helps you propel you through the water with…

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Best Tasting Freshwater Fish

Best Tasting Freshwater Fish to Eat

If you like to fish for food, then taste is always going to be one of your top concerns. In this article, we’re checking out the tastiest freshwater fish! Fishing is a sustainable and natural way to gather your own food, and few things are more satisfying than serving up a meal made with fresh…

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Best Waterproofing Spray

10 Best Waterproofing Sprays

A boat is a big investment, and you want to do everything in your power to keep that investment safe. In this article, we’re checking out an oft-overlooked product for keeping your boat safe and dry – waterproofing spray. Waterproofing spray is an essential tool for extending the life of your boat cover. We’ll start…

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Sabiki Rig

Ultimate Guide to Sabiki Rigs and How To Use Them

The Sabiki rig is a cutting edge fishing technique that was first used for baitfish angling in Asia. Sabiki rigs have grown to be known as flasher rigs by a great section of the fishing community. They are the absolute fishing tackle and are now employed all over the world. The rig consists of flies…

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How to Tie Braided Fishing Line to Monofilament or Fluorocarbon

How to Tie Braided Fishing Line to Monofilament or Fluorocarbon

Have you been wondering how to tie a braided fishing line to monofilament or fluorocarbon? There is a very good chance that you have; every avid angler asks themselves such questions. There is also a very good chance that the very next question you asked yourself after that is, “why do I need to learn…

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Best Aloe Vera Gel

Top 5 Aloe Vera Gels of 2024: Ultimate Guide!

Aloe vera is one of the most amazing plants in the world. It has many health benefits that not all people know about. Though we always see skincare products with aloe vera, it is an ingredient that is always taken for granted. The best aloe vera gel is not only effective but also contains more…

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Thermocline - Everything You Need to Know

How To Find The Thermocline For Better FIshing

What is Thermocline? To understand the thermoclines, you need to understand the term fully: it’s a combination of two words, “thermal,” which means heat, and “cline,” which means a layer of degradation. Thermocline is a transitional barrier or layer of water in which the water temperature changes rapidly and is very different from the warmer…

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Transom Saver

What is a Transom Saver And Do I Need One?

The transom saver is a device that protects your boat’s transom from stress or eventual damage from forces exerted on it by the weight of the outboard while you are trailering it. There is a great deal of impact on the transom from weight shifting as the outboard bounces constantly while navigating rough terrain, bumps,…

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