My wife and I were thinking about buying a water rower when we tried one out in a store this winter while we were in South Carolina. The manufacturer of that machine made an "attractive" looking model with several colors of wooden frames...costing about $1000. When we returned home in NY, and the Covid 19 "Stay at Home" guidelines were instituted, I started looking online for a water rower...I came across this model which was listed as "Amazon Choice"...and less than half the price of the Waterrower. After reading many reviews and considered the price and Amazon recommendation, I ordered one on April 4th...It arrived on April 14th. I left the box in my garage and brought it piece by piece into my basement for assembly. After I ordered it, I purchased enough !8x18 mat rubber squares at Home Depot to make a padded floor for the rower on my concrete floor...mine is about 106"x55" (more than enough to accommodate the rower).
Assembly was not difficult at all...it took me a little under 2 hours working alone...mainly because I was being cautious and trying to read carefully. The directions are not bad...could be more descriptive...but with care, you can figure it out quite easily. My basement ceiling is NOT quite tall enough to stand the machine upright, so I have no intention to move it around. That's no big deal to me considering where we use it...and when I saw in reviews that a few people had problems with the water leaking, it seemed to me that it was when it was stored upright. When I filled the tank to the maximum depth, it is below the seam in the top and bottom of the tank, so I'm confident that the leaking issue is not a concern when the machine is stored flat in operating position.
Now, using the rower is the best part ! It is quiet and smooth...the sound of wooshing water is soothing and one can't even hear it from the rest of the house. I brought a tv into the basement to encourage us to prolong our workouts....it's not necessary to blast the volume on the tv to be heard over the rower.
My wife is new to rowing but loves it and has used it every day. I find the seat comfortable enough to get a 1 hour workout without my butt hurting....something I could never do at the gym without using a folded towel to cushion the seat. Granted we've only had this machine for a week, so I can't speak about the longevity, but the solid quality at this time suggests that we will be pleased with it for a long time. Our basement has been used only for laundry and storage in the past. Now we're saying "I'm going to the gym...hope that rowing machine I like isn't taken"...:)
Follow up:
Six months into owning this machine:
I use it EVERY day for 1 hour or more (thank goodness for Amazon Prime tv and Netflix)....changed the water in the tank this morning as recommended after 6 months...no problem. I still love the workout, the smooth operation and quality of the machine. I did drill a hole in each of the foot pedals and secured them to the frame with a flat head bolt, a washer and nut so they no longer pivot. Some reviewers complained about that pivot action...I didn't find it a problem but I do like it better now that the foot rest is in a fixed position. Sunny Health makes a great machine.
| Brand | Sunny Health & Fitness |
|---|---|
| Special Feature | Bluetooth, Padded Seat, Lightweight |
| Color | Black |
| Resistance Mechanism | Water |
| Product Dimensions | 78.9"D x 22.3"W x 35.4"H |
| Maximum Weight Recommendation | 300 Pounds |
| Metrics Measured | Total Time, SPM, Total Strockes, Calories, Heart Rate, Ambient Temperature, etc. |
| Model Name | SF-RW5713SMART |
| Frame Material | Alloy Steel |
| Item Weight | 91.9 Pounds |
| Tension Level | Progressive |
| Material | Alloy Steel |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Number of Batteries | 2 AA batteries required. (included) |
| Display Type | LCD |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00815749015693 |
| UPC | 815749015693 |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 42.5 x 22.5 x 20.5 inches |
| Package Weight | 57.15 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 78.9 x 22.3 x 35.4 inches |
| Brand Name | Sunny Health & Fitness |
| Warranty Description | 3 year structural frame / 180 days other parts and components |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Manufacturer | Sunny Health & Fitness |
| Part Number | SF-RW5713SMART |
| Style | Advance Smart |
| Included Components | Rower, User Manual, Tool, Hardware, 2 AA Batteries |
| Size | Standard |
| Sport Type | Exercise & Fitness |
