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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

Pflueger President Spinning Reel Review

A spinning reel is a must-have for all anglers, regardless of their experience levels. It is the first thing that pops to mind whenever you think of fishing as it has helped many to learn the basics of fishing. It is very critical to angling since it is the gadget that enables you to pull…

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Garmin Livescope Review

Garmin Livescope Review

When it comes to GPS and fishing technology, very few companies can compare to Garmin International. Not only do they offer excellent fish finding gear and have done so for decades now, but they also give you tech that is easy and fun to use. One of the most outstanding pieces of fishing equipment in…

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Flounder vs Halibut

Flounder vs Halibut – All You Need to Know

Avid anglers almost always have an internal competition going among the different “catch of the day” categories. This competition always goes something like this: which is better, red snapper or white snapper? How about largemouth bass vs smallmouth bass? You get the gist; the comparison is between the different types of fish that compare closely…

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Thermocline - Everything You Need to Know

Thermocline – Everything You Need to Know

If you hang around diver or angler forums long enough, you will come across some terminologies that will require explaining. Terminologies like “thermocline.” If you have ever wondered what the big deal is with thermoclines, how it affects fishing or diving, and what you can do about it, then wonder no more. In this handy…

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How to Fish - A Beginners Checklist

How to Fish – A Beginners Guide

Have you ever wondered what the fuss is all about? Why billions of people across the globe go fishing every now and again? After all, they could just walk into the nearest fish market and buy some of the best and freshest fillets around? Why, then, would someone take the time to learn how to…

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Best Braided Fishing Line – Top 8 Options for 2024

Want to catch more fish? You’ll need to get your hands on the best braided fishing line the market has to offer. Whoa… Okay, that sounded like a bad 90s commercial. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s true. If you’re a monofilament purist, listen up: You might be missing out on…

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Crestliner PT 20

Best Bass Boats – Top 7 Picks for 2024

People go boating for several reasons. Sometimes you just want to spend some quality time with your family out on the water. In other instances, you may want to entertain some friends and catch a couple of beers while you’re at it. For some, it’s the perfect opportunity to get away from the hustle and…

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Best Aluminum Fishing Boats – Top 10 Picks for 2024

If you’re in the market for a new fishing boat and aren’t quite sure which one to get, have you considered buying an aluminum vessel? For one thing, they’re cheap; certainly cheaper than getting any of the ones made from fiberglass. They are also quite light – a feature you’ll soon appreciate the moment you…

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Best Sport Fishing Boats – Top 30 Options for 2024

People in the non-fishing world often ask – What exactly makes fishing a sport? It’s a valid question since it’s not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when you think of sports. To clarify, a “sport” is anything that requires some level of physical exertion, skill and can be done competitively. Any activity…

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Best Trawlers for 2024 – Top 5 Options to Consider

If you love the idea of long-range cruising on the open ocean in a seaworthy vessel that offers the creature comforts you need to live in your watercraft for extended periods, a trawler is precisely what you need in your life. It’s the closest thing you can get to a yacht without the hefty price…

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Best Bowriders for 2024 – Top 10 Options

Here’s an interesting statistic for you. Did you know that 95 percent of all Americans live near a navigable water body? And, that 72 percent of boat owners in the country are predominantly from middle-class households with an average annual income of less than $100,000? Makes you think, doesn’t it? What’s your excuse? Why aren’t…

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Best Dual Console Boat – Top 7 Options for 2024

A dual console boat is exactly what it sounds like – a boat with two consoles. They are arguably the most popular vessels on the water today. Before we go any further, it’s important to define what the word “console” means in the boating context. More often than not, when someone mentions a console, you…

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Best Jet Boats – Top 5 Picks for 2024

If you’re relatively new to the boating world, the first question you might ask is – What is a jet boat, and what is it used for? While these kinds of boats are designed to look like actual jets given their streamlined appearance, the reality is that’s not where they get their name from. It…

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Best Walkaround Boats – Top 5 Picks for 2024

Here’s a little ice-breaker you can use at parties: What do you call a cross between a small cuddy boat and a center console? A walkaround boat! Okay, it may not work as well as we thought it would, but hey – It’s a great way to kick off this review. Walkaround boats, or walkaround…

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Best Deck Boats – Top Picks for 2024

If you’re looking for the perfect family boat or a watercraft you can take out on the water and enjoy a fun day out in the sun with friends; a deck boat might be just the thing you need to do it. They look a lot like bowriders except for their characteristic V-hull and the…

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Best Yachts – Top 15 Picks for 2024

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a yacht? Probably those huge luxury cruisers reserved for the high society folks, right? Well, that’s true, but those are a special group of ships referred to as luxury yachts. The questions you need to be asking are – What is a yacht?…

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Best Houseboats – Top 10 Options for Every Budget

Approximately 71 percent of the Earth is covered by water. So, it was only a matter of time before someone came up with the idea of building a houseboat. At this point, you might be wondering what the difference between that and a liveaboard boat is. A liveaboard boat is essentially any kind of watercraft…

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Reviewing the Best Skiffs of 2024

“Skiff” is a broad term used to define small boats that typically have a curved or pointed bow and a flat stern. They can be flat-bottomed and are generally used for traversing extremely shallow waters. Now, if you’ve been following our boating series so far, that definition might sound a bit familiar, and are likely…

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Reviewing The Best Fishing Rigs of 2024

The best fishing rig is not one individual rig, but instead, it is the best fishing rig for the type of fishing you are trying to do. What may work as a great bass rig may not be good for a crappie rig, and vice versa. To know what fishing rig to use, you will…

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Ranking the Best Fishing Apps of 2024

With today’s technology, there is an app for everything, so why should fishing be excluded from this list? You may wonder why you would need a fishing app, so we’re here to answer that for you, along with many other questions you may have, including, “What is the best fishing app?” We have compiled a…

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Reviewing the Best Fishing Boats of 2024

If you are going to spend any time on the water, you need a good fishing boat. A fishing boat will get you to deep water and coves that you would be unable to access any other way, and some of these spots can produce the best fishing results. Buying a fishing boat for the…

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Tangled Fishing Net

Best Fishing Knots That You Can’t Live Without

If you’ve ever tied a hook onto your fishing line and noticed that it came undone quickly or broke easily, you’re not alone. Tying a fishing line is a little more intricate than just tying a knot on a string. Because fishing line is made of nylon, it doesn’t tie the way normal cloth thread…

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Best Fishing Times and Days

Have you ever been watching the local news and noticed the weatherman discussing the best fishing time for today’s weather forecast? Well, he’s not just making it up. There is an entire process that goes into understanding and forecasting the best fishing times and the best fishing days. The weather, moon, and time of year…

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10 Best Boats Under $50,000

If you’re new to the world of boating, one of the toughest decisions you’ll have to make from the get-go is – which boat to get. Granted, you want one that’s adorned with all the bells and whistles that add to its appeal. But the one limiting factor you’ll have to contend with is the…

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Reviewing the Best Sailboats for 2024

For some, there are fewer things in the world that trump the sheer joy you get from enjoying some water sports . There’s something so surreal about floating in the middle of the sea, surrounded by water on all sides stretching out to infinity. It’s truly a sight to behold. Now, if you thought the…

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How to Attach a Snorkel to a Mask

A snorkel mask will have an attachment that will ensure the snorkel stays connected to the mask when you take the snorkel out of your mouth or if it accidentally falls out. While this will guarantee that your snorkel doesn’t fall to the bottom of the sea as you snorkel, attaching a snorkel to a…

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Best Center Cockpit Sailboats

Spaciousness and privacy below the deck are among the things that draw many boaters to center cockpit sailboats. With some of the models having roomy owner cabins and elaborate ergonomics, these boats continue to attract an enthusiastic following, especially by those who seek after sailing vessels for overnight cruising and day sailing. Owning these sailboats…

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Why Is Night Vision Green?

From almost every military movie you have watched to “Call of Duty” missions and even creepy stalker films, night vision goggles have almost become a mainstay in all darkness oriented adventures. Apart from the fact that night vision goggles seem to bring light to darkness and help members of SEAL Team 6 see quite well…

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Rating the Best Remote Control Boats of 2024

Remote control boats have gained popularity in recent years, and it is no surprise. The technology and design that goes into making remote control boats have drastically improved, piquing the interest of many RC enthusiasts. Many remote control boats claim to be the best, but how do you know if that’s true? Well, that’s why…

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Reviewing the Best Ski Boats of 2024

Water skiing is one of the most exhilarating outdoor sports there is. There’s something so surreal about being surrounded by cool blue waters, feeling the wind in your hair, and water splashing across your face. There’s truly nothing like it. Whether you do it in the ocean, lake, or reservoir, there’s no better way to…

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