Mr. Captain Rowing Machine for Home Use,Water Resistance Natural Wood Rower with Bluetooth Monitor

The media could not be loaded.  Because of the stay at home orders during the 2020 pandemic which is still in effect as I'm writing this review, I have not been able go to the gym to do my group fitness classes or use the equipment. I've also been struggling to find ways to continue exercising to stay fit and healthy while at home. I'm not very athletic, nor a fitness enthusiast, so it's hard for me to find a workout or type of exercise that I will actually stick with and enjoy.Enter Mr. Captain Rowing Machine! I've been happily using it regularly for the last few months since I purchased it. I find that I actually enjoy rowing now. It's also fun to see how long I can row and the number of strokes I can do. It keeps me engaged and wanting to do more strokes and row longer.This brand of rowing machine was recommended to me by a friend who owns one. He told me that this is a high quality rower that closely simulates actual rowing because the resistance system uses water instead of magnetic like the typical rowers available on the market. I've tried the common magnetic resistance type rowers at the gym that I used to go to. I remember that it worked both my upper and lower body. I also felt like I got a great workout even after only 15 minutes! So, I thought getting a home rower would be a good investment. However, I don't have much room in my house so I needed a rower that can be stowed away or moved aside when it's not in use.After I did some research on rowing machines, I decided to order the Mr. Captain Rowing Machine. Here are ther reasons I chose this brand:- High quality materials and workmanship.- Price is reasonable for the features, quality, materials, and functions compared to other rowers I found online ranging from under $300 to over $2000.- Easy to assemble.- Water resistance vs magnetic resistance - Water resistance really makes you feel like you are rowing in water! You add water to the sealed water tank which has a spinning fan-like wheel with fins that pushes the water when you row. The water tank has graduated lines so you can add the desired amount of water based on how much resistance you want.- USB rechargeable water pump - this makes it really easy to fill and remove water from the tank as you desire.- Ergonomic and comfortable seat.- Extremely smooth tracks/rails for the seat to glide on.- Adjustable foot rests and straps for different sizes.- Ergonomic and comfortable handles - you get a good grip and it doesn't hurt your hands.- Digital monitor that tracks your workout; monitor has Bluetooth if you want to connect to your phone through their fitness app. (I don't use the app so I can't review it)- Aesthetics - I ordered the one that is made of natural solid red walnut wood, not veneer; it looks more like a piece of furniture instead of gym equipment.- Portable and space efficient - stand it up on one end to roll it away (it has wheels) to store it against a wall or where ever you want.

So glad I decided on this rower! I shopped for all types, water, fan, and magnetic and after a week of comparing decided on this as the best value. ( I’ve only ever used a fan type rower in the gym.) I used the split payments of around $38, and justified that as what I’d pay to go to the gym, right!?I used to teach Tabata-HIIT, and I paddle board regularly, but with covid-19 I’ve had to stop teaching classes and of course no gyms. :( the weather is finally starting to get too cool in CA for paddling and this is PERFECT for my small condo! Stores out of the way nicely and looks great, also comes with a cover if I needed to put it on my balcony for more room. VERY easy to lift into upright position as the weight is all in the bottom when filled, and pretty easy to roll around. (Tip tighten down the wheels, then back out on the nuts about a half turn till the wheels roll freely)I’m a 53 year old single mom, and it took me about 30 min to assemble by myself. If you have assembled any furniture from target you can easily do this. Instructions are straightforward. I listened to other reviewers and plugged in the pump before I started assembly and it worked great. Probably would have taken less time if I had a bigger container to fill the water from, I used a large mixing bowl from my kitchen and I think I refilled it 4-5 times. Looking forward to getting off the 10 lbs I earned by lazing around too much and baking bread and cookies “for the kids” 😁If you row correctly you’ll feel it in your core, legs, arms, and back; great full body workout!I’m average 5’5” and 125lbs, feels very sturdy and solid for me and also for my 5’10 185 lb son. He’s online learning, and it’s a perfect diversion to get off the video games.I was afraid a smaller metal frame one wouldn’t feel as stable and enjoyable for him. It’s great!

========================UPDATE AFTER 6 MONTHS USE========================Hi everyone - I'd recommend this machine.After 6 months of use, I am quite pleased with it.Raised from my initial 1 star (see initial review below) to now 4 stars as- PRO: seller has addressed the issue and provided replacement parts- PRO: the machine has been sturdy and pleasant to use. Nice water 'woosh' noise :)- PRO: the seat rolls seamlessly on the rails... even after 6 months use!- PRO: it is very quick and easy to set the machine in place and back against a wall for storage- PRO: seller has not asked me to update my initial review, not even once!... and not 5 stars.... as...- CON: seller was initially unresponsive and it required a negative review to get the issue addressed- CON: the foot pedal straps tend to loosen up as one rowes.... meaning you'll need to tighten the straps up 1-3 times in a 30 min workout. It's just an annoyance really.Initially, the unit I received was defective. I have kept the initial 1 star review below in fairness to potential buyers. Though my rating is truly now 4 stars in fairness to the seller having address the issue, and to the overall value/quality.============INITIAL REVIEW============I hope prospective buyers will find this review useful.I am recommending NOT to buy due to 3 issues1. Quality of the foot pedal assembly is poor (the material itself)2. The seller's pre-assembly has poor quality control (the workmanship and quality inspection)3. The sellers communication and ability to solve the issue is poorSummary: I currently have a useless piece of equipmentThe rowing machine appears in general of reasonable quality and I was initially pleased by the wood quality as I assembled the machine. But I have not been able to actually truly try the machine. The reason is that the right foot pedal would not lock in place. This causes the pedal to slide down if I any foot pressure is applied as one would normally when using the machine.Seller's ability and willingness to solve the issueI reported the issue on the same day I received and assembled the machine. It is now exactly 10 days. I have messaged the sellers 4 times, including sending photos. Each time, the seller is quick to respond and acknowledge the issue with responses such as "we can replace you with new accessories or the entire assembly, please don't worry". However the seller has yet to actually provide a solution and replacement parts.IssueThe foot pedals, corresponding cover hold assembly and lock mechanism are of poor quality - essentially plastic with gross measurements. The lock mechanism is under the black cover. For the lock mechanism to work, the cover must be flush with the wood board support to hold the foot pedal against the lock latch.As shown on the photos: the left side is correct with a flush cover and the edge of the cover perfectly aligned to the edge of the wood board. BUT on the right side, it is a different story. The cover is too wide by at least 2 mm. In order for the cover to actually have been screwed onto the wood board (it comes pre-assembled), the technician would have had to push and bend the cover for the screw holes to align. It puzzles me as to why the technician would actually do this as it clearly makes the right foot unusable. The cover gets bent and cannot hold the foot pedal (which itself must also be bent to fit).I have emailed the seller one last time after which I will initiate a return.To be fair to the seller, I will update this review if/as I hear further.Thank you for reading and best of luck in your rowing machine shopping :)