John Duke, a Yale grad and US National Team rower, designed the first WaterRower in the mid-80s. He wanted a machine that mimicked the feel of sculling on open water, not just the resistance. Today, each WaterRower is still hand-built in Rhode Island. The Oak S4 uses sustainably sourced hardwood from the Appalachians. That wood frame isn’t decorative. It absorbs vibration and noise, so the machine stays quiet and stable during hard pulls.

The S4 monitor tracks stroke rate, distance, and heart rate with a simple backlit display. It connects via Bluetooth to apps like Kinomap and ErgData. The resistance comes from a water flywheel. You fill the tank with water, and the paddles churn against it. The harder you pull, the more resistance you feel. It’s intuitive and smooth, with no magnetic drag or friction pads to wear out. The machine handles users up to 300 pounds.

Assembly takes about an hour. The wood requires occasional conditioning to prevent drying. The tank needs a purification tablet every few months to keep the water clear. These are small maintenance tasks for a machine that will likely outlast cheaper alternatives. If you want a rower that feels like a piece of furniture and rows like a boat, this is it.