- The Original Waterrower – Handcrafted and Built to Last: Designed in the mid ’80s by Yale and US National Team Rower John Duke. WaterRower continues to combine stylish design, handcrafted workmanship, our unique WaterFlywheel resistance and ethically sourced materials create the world’s finest rowing simulator
- Made in the USA – Hand-built in Rhode Island; all timber used in the manufacture of wooden WaterRower rowing machines is sourced from sustainably managed hardwood forests in the Appalachian Mountains. The ASH Rower is Made of Ash Wood with a Natural Color Finish
- Smooth – Water rowers use a water-filled flywheel to provide resistance as you row. The resistance is created by the paddle-like blades of the flywheel moving through the water, creating a smooth and natural resistance that closely resembles the feeling of rowing on water. Like water, the harder you fight, the more resistance you get
- Burn calories in short time – There are many benefits to rowing. It is a low impact cardiovascular exercise that puts less stress on your joints. Full body workout that includes your legs, core, back and arms. Perfect for all fitness levels. This water rowing machine targets all major muscle groups (84 percent of total muscle mass)
- Dimensions – 82″ L x 20″ H x 22″ W / weight: 103.5 lbs (with water). Easily store it on end
djcinohio –
The quality and beauty of construction of this rowing machine is exquisite. I like wood products and wood-related interior decor, and this machine and the quality of its construction and finishing are wonderful. The product is shipped in three containers (two if you are not buying the legs). I was really amazed to see how the various parts are packaged so you can immediately see each part and its relationship to others. Most products come with small hardware captured in a small bag which you have to sort through and match up in the directions. Small parts with this unit were carefully placed in a hard clear plastic tray with separate compartments for each item making it easy to determine what was what. The organization of the box with components and hardware was analagous to opening a new iPhone–sleek device and the most elegant packaging. And as noted above, the quality of the product and its aesthetic simplicity was great, and enhanced by the packaging.
I thought assembly was very easy with two minor exceptions. In order to attach the foot plate, I had to loosen the bolts that attached the top piece of the tank just a bit so I could get the top of the foot board in place and secured. Once done, tighten the bolts on the top piece. Wasn’t obvious at first and not noted in the instructions as something you might have to do.
The second exception was attaching the legs to the unit. The legs come with a metal bracket that provides structure to the leg set once it is attached to the bottom of the rower rails. The order of steps to attach the legs and then insert this support bracket is ideally the right sequence to follow for ease of attachment of the legs. But the bracket is slightly larger than the space between the two legs, so you have to squeeze the end of the bracket a bit and insert between the legs, then force it into place by a hammer or butt end of a short piece of 2×4, etc. I used a rubber mallet. Once in place, the holes matched up nicely, and I attached the bolts.
The wood in the product will change depending on temperature and humidity conditions and may affect how specific holes line up. I had no need to widen a hole or drill a new one anywhere. The instructions indicate you may want to drill a deeper hole on the bottom side of the rail where the legs are attached. They are actually attached at the same location where rubber grommets are already located. I did drill slightly deeper holes where I removed the grommets to install the legs.
Ricardo Gallardo –
Excelente calidad, el material le da ese toque elegante y funciona increíble
Bruno Pasqualino –
Un attrezzo con un design fantastico, il rumore è solo quello dell’acqua che da proprio l’idea della remata, poco intuitivo l’utilizzo del controller, ma è un dettaglio le funzioni principali sono chiare.
Aarón –
excelente opción para hacer ejercicio en casa… un poco cara, pero se ve muy resistente, si dura lo que pienso va a desquitar cada peso que pague…
Todd Murray –
These machines are awesome. I am 6’4” and 185 lbs and this machine is very comfortable. But this machine would work as great for a much smaller person as well The machine looks great, tucks away in the corner if the living room. They are good quality and assembled easily.
J. Hamilton –
Like most people in their 40’s, my knees and stamina are significantly reduced from the aging process. I am 6’2″ and a svelte 240 pounds; so clomping away on the treadmill makes a heck of a racket, makes my soul bleed and is rough on thee ol’ bones as well.
So my purpose here was not to “compete online” or any of that nonsense, but rather to have a decent cardiovascular workout while I numb my consciousness with a show or movie. Rowing seems like the ticket, so I started researching: A neighbor has the Gold Standard of rowers, the Concept 2, which I was able to test and honestly it’s a better value: Everything about the Concept 2 is better – it’s mostly metal and is commercial quality, with a smooth pull, a wider range of resistance adjustment, it has some silly two-dimensional “games” to help motivate you, a better screen and it gives you the impression that someone will snatch it up at your estate sale in 20 years… wipe the dust off and get another decade or two out of it – which is why you see it in every gym (and my neighbor’s basement). It’s tough. It’s also $200 less… However, it’s also loud… loud enough to where in a confined space (like your workout room), I feel you’d have to blast the volume on your TV or replace the batteries on your hearing aid before working out.
Enter, the WaterRower. The WaterRower is trendy (they don’t even need a space in the name, it’s THAT edgy), yet it’s still a good buy as it better fits what most of us are likely to use it for: working out at home, in a smaller room while watching a show. I can easily have a conversation with my children, watch Crockett chase someone down the streets of Miami in impeccably white Espadrilles at normal volume and still have the impression of “hey, Miami Vice was the best TV show ever, and this rower remarkably quiet!” My wife likes the wood construction and I will admit that it handles my 1/8th ton of mass effortlessly with no problem, unlike most of the furniture from Ikea (hint: don’t shop at Ikea unless your a 60kg Swede). I just finished a workout and broke a sweat, but in a way that was comfortable and repeatable. The display is basic, however it turns on automatically and displays the basic info that most of us would want: your rowing rate, elapsed time, etc. No PacMan or Pong on it that I can see – which might have been a nice perk.
Most of us will be rowing for a duration of time, so although the display was the ugliest part of the machine, it remains perfectly reasonable and utilitarian, like the dashboard of a Volvo. The best part, is that I did not have to turn up the volume on the TV in a 12 foot room to hear comfortably over the machine. It really is remarkably quiet, with smooth efficiency and a pleasing appearance. It is easy enough to stand up out of the way as well, so in this context I’d say the WaterRower is a better “value” for most of us recreational users. I was able to assemble the machine in about 10 minutes, not counting a trip to the garage to get a second 5mm allen wrench.
If you feel the need to play a pixilated 1980’s game of pong (“catch the fish”) while trash-talking your Crossfit buddies on Snapchat before celebrating your new personal best with an ice-cold Michelob Ultra, then you probably have two active gym memberships, a single-digit bodyfat percentage and would be better off with the Concept 2. As for me, I like real beer, 80’s crime dramas, full figured women – and the WaterRower. I rate it as a definite “buy.”
Scott –
It’s exactly what I expected. Looks great and well built. Very smooth and quiet. Provides as much resistance as you put into it. The monitor is great for tracking distance, intensity, etc. Only suggested improvement would be to have the monitor pair with a smartphone.