Interested in purchasing the Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445?
You’ve come to the right place to find all the pros & cons of this low cost water rowing machine.
The Stamina 1445 is currently the lowest cost water resistance rowing machine on the market!
So if you are set on water resistance, but also want to save money, this may be the model for you!
However, there are a few issues you will want to read about such as the basic monitor and low quality parts that sometimes need replacement.
Find out more by reading the full Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445 review below!
Resistance Type
The Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445 is a water resistance rower, as the name suggests.
Water resistance is a very popular resistance type that offers smooth, quiet resistance and closely mimics the feeling of rowing on water.
It operates by utilizing paddles suspended in a tank of water. A user pulls the handle and spins the paddles. As the paddles spin, they must displace the water in front of them, which causes resistance.
The faster a user rows, the more water the paddles must displace, and the greater the resistance becomes.
We call this ‘variable’ resistance because there are an infinite amount of resistance levels a person can feel on a water rowing machine.
To feel more resistance, just row faster. To feel less resistance, just row slower.
Water resistance is very similar to air resistance, which is why I wrote an article fully breaking down both resistance types here.
Resistance Benefits
There are numerous benefits to water resistance, in particular, the resistance provided by the Stamina 1445 Wave Water Rowing Machine.
First, the resistance is extremely smooth and has no lag. Meaning, you feel smooth, strong resistance from start to finish.
It is also fairly quiet and you will only hear the noise of water splashing inside the tank. The noise is not loud enough to be heard in neighboring rooms or by people in neighboring apartments.
Many people even find the noise on the Stamina Wave Water Rower 1445 to be meditative.
As mentioned previously, there is an infinite amount of resistance levels so the Stamina 1445 is great for all users. Strong athletes to beginners will be able to enjoy the full body workout provided by the Stamina Wave Water Rower.
Water Level
While there are technically no mechanisms to increase or decrease resistance, besides rowing faster or slower, there is the ability to add or subtract water to the rowing tank.
Adding and subtracting water will change the feeling of the rowing stroke from a lighter boat to a heavier boat. Just add more water for a “heavier” resistance and subtract water for a “lighter” resistance.
There are 10 levels marked on the side of the water tank. Level 1 is the the lightest and level 10 is the heaviest.
The monitor is calibrated to level 9 which Stamina considers “standard calibration level”.
Resistance Negatives
There were not many negative comments about the Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445 resistance.
Most users felt is was smooth, strong, and continuous. They also felt the noise level was low and the adjustable water level was easy to change.
Having reviewed many water rowing machines in the past allows me to understand some of the negatives of water resistance in general. Some of the negatives include slightly weaker resistance and inaccurate data calculation.
Many users who have rowed on both air and water rowing machines feel water rowers offer slightly less resistance than air. While it is something to note, the difference is minor.
Water rower machines also offer inferior data calculation compared to air rowing machines. This is due to the formula used to calculate measurements, such as watts and drag factor, not being as accurate.
However, on lower priced models like the Stamina 1445 Wave Water Rowing Machine, the monitors are not capable of recording these measurement, so this isn’t really a problem. Air rowing machines in this price range also don’t record data with 100% accuracy.
Overall
The resistance on the Stamina Wave Water Rower 1445 is strong, smooth, and quiet with adjustable water levels.
Almost all users found it to be great and felt it was capable of giving anyone a hard rowing workout.
Monitor/Control Panel
The Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445 has a multi-function fitness monitor to provide instant feedback on your workouts. The monitor tracks the following data:
- Time
- Count
- Distance
- Calories
- Strokes/Min
Users can start rowing and the monitor will automatically turn on and start recording data. You can also enter preset values for time, distance, or calories and have the monitor count down to zero for the session.
There is also a “Travel Distance Indicator” which displays your rowing stroke and helps you to keep rhythm.
Monitor Downsides
As you can see, the monitor is fairly basic and only tracks the necessary fitness data. Some users felt the monitor could have been more advanced for the price.
There are no preset workout programs or games and the monitor cannot connect to a PC or record heart rate.
These features are not included on many rowing machines in this price range but they are seen on a few.
Calorie calculation is also based on an average user and should only be used as an estimate. Accurate calorie calculation can only be recorded by taking heart rate measurements with age and weight inputs.
Some users have also found the “stroke count” to be double. This can be caused by the sensor recording both the forward and backward stroke. This is easy enough to test and you can divide by 2 if the count is doubled.
Overall
The Stamina 1445 Wave Water Rowing Machine has a fairly basic monitor with no special features. While people didn’t love the monitor, they also didn’t hate it.
Users looking for a more advanced monitor, with heart rate capabilities, should look into buying the upgraded Stamina Elite Wave Water Rower 1450.
Build Quality
When looking into mid-range models, like the Stamina 1445 Wave Water Rowing Machine, we must analyze build quality closely.
Many times cheaper parts are needed to produce inexpensive rowing machines, so we want to make sure the rower isn’t going to break after a few months.
The Stamina Wave Water Rower 1445 is constructed using steel and has a steel rowing beam. The water tank is made from durable plastic and had no signs of breaking or leaking.
Stamina installed “leveling end-caps” so the rower would sit even on a floor and provide a stronger, more sturdy rowing base.
Other parts, such as the seat, handle, and footrests are made from high quality material and showed no signs of breaking.
Build Quality Negatives
The main quality concerns came from the “Rowing Strap”, which connects the handle to the mechanism that spins the paddles. There is also concern with the “Bungee Cord”, which helps recoil the rowing strap and resistance mechanism.
Both parts seem like they will wear over time and need replacement. Stamina even includes replacement instructions on the manual for both parts.
I contacted Stamina Products to find out the cost of each part. The rowing strap and bungee cord can both be purchased for $10.00 each. So it will only cost $20.00 if there is an issue.
While this isn’t a huge problem and the fix seems easy enough, it is still a downside and nuisance to have to perform.
There are some photos you can view of a frayed strap in one of the Stamina 1445 Amazon consumer reviews here. This review is very negative due to the strap fraying, so don’t be deterred by one person. There are plenty of other consumers who reviewed this model very positively.
Overall
The build quality on the Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445 is decent overall and most users had no complaints.
The only users to complain experienced premature wear on the rowing strap and bungee cord.
Below is a video showing the Stamina 35-1445 in action.
Comfort
The Stamina Wave Water Rower 1445 comes equipped with all the features needed to perform a comfortable rowing stroke.
It comes equipped with an extra wide, molded seat to provide lasting comfort on long rowing sessions. Plus, the ball bearing rollers glide smoothly up and down the solid seat rail.
The rowing handle has textured grip to allow for a comfortable hold on the handle, even when your hands become sweaty.
Users can securely hold their feet in place by using the strong velcro straps. Plus, the footrests pivot to provide a more comfortable rowing stroke and larger range of motion.
The only downside I came across pertaining to comfort was from the “split” in the rail where the Stamina 1445 folds for storage. If you are short and slide all the way forward, you will feel the seat rollers moving over this section.
Besides this one issue, most users felt the Stamina 1445 Wave Water Rowing Machine provided a smooth, comfortable rowing stroke.
Storage
The Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445 comes with easy fold storage and portability features.
To move the rower, simply lift from the back of the seat rail, and roll on the front wheels. It is easier to move the Stamina 1445 with the seat rail down and then fold for storage.
Users can then fold the rower in half by removing the “fixing lever” from the main frame, folding the seat rail up, and reinserting the “fixing lever”.
It’s that easy and can be done in less than a minute!
The Stamina Wave Water Rower 14445 can easily be stored inside a closet or in the corner of a room. There is also no need to remove any water from the tank before moving.
Capacity
Heavier users of the Stamina 1445 Wave Water Rowing Machine will be happy to know the manufacturer’s weight capacity is 300 lbs.
This is a great feature due to some rowing machines in this price range only having a 250 lb. weight capacity. This means Stamina stands behind the build quality of this model.
Users as tall as 6’3″ have also used the Stamina 1445 without any issues and had a few inches to spare until the back of the seat rail.
Shorter users will also not have an issue using this model and can perform a full rowing stroke without any problems.
Dimensions
- Assembled Dimensions:
- 85.35″ x 20.25″ x 33.75″ (L x W x H)
- Shipping Weight:
- 92 lbs.
- Assembled Weight:
- 71.7 lbs. (without water)
Assembly
Assembling the Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445 is fairly straightforward and there were no mentioned issues.
Most people were able to complete assembly in about 35-45 minutes.
All the necessary tools come with the packaging for assembly, including a water siphon for filling and removing water from the tank.
You will need to have 2AA batteries for the monitor.
Just follow the instructions carefully and you will be rowing on your brand new Stamina 1445 Water Rower in no time!
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Smooth water resistance
- Easy addition and subtraction of water
- Strong build quality
- Comfortable rowing stroke
- Low price for water rowing machine
- Easy assembly
Cons:
- Very basic monitor
- Rowing strap and bungee cord can wear prematurely
- Short users can feel the seat rail “split”
- Short “parts” warranty
Consumer Reviews
The Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445 reviews were fairly mixed for a few reasons. Some users experienced issues with their monitor not working properly or the rowing strap fraying prematurely. This led them to leave negative reviews.
Others felt for the price they were paying, they should have received higher quality or just saved up to purchase a WaterRower brand rowing machine.
Other users felt the Stamina 1445 was great and they experienced no issues. They were also happy to be able to purchase a water resistance rowing machine in the mid-rang price category.
You can read more Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445 reviews here.
Average Rating: 4.2
Warranty
- Frame: 3-Years
- Parts: 90-Days
While the frame warranty is decent, the parts warranty is very short for a rowing machine in this price range. I feel there should be a longer warranty on parts, especially with some of the rowing straps and bungee cords fraying.
You must also make sure to register the rowing machine to activate the warranty. Use the full model name: Stamina 35-1445 Wave Water Rowing Machine.
Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445 Price
One of the most alluring features of the Stamina 1445 Wave Water Rower is the price. For a long time, there were not many rowing machine models under $1,000 and very few around the $600 price mark.
People looking for a less expensive water rowing machine are most attracted to the Stamina 1445.
The Stamina Wave Water Rower is offered on a few of the big online retailers. The price is similar in most stores but Amazon is a great place for buying rowing machines. You can read a ton of consumer reviews and they offer free shipping on most orders.
They also offer good consumer protection and have low prices on many other related products.
Overall Review
The Stamina 1445 Wave Water Rowing Machine is an excellent option for people looking to buy a water rowing machine at the most affordable price.
This model doesn’t have the best monitor or best build quality, but it will have great water resistance for less than any other current water rower model.
If you are looking for higher quality water rowing machines, you may want to check out the WaterRower brand. They offer a bunch of different models that function exactly the same, but differ in price based on the wood they are made from. You can visit my rowing machine comparison page and sort by “water” to see their full line-up.
You can also check out my WaterRower GX Rowing Machine review to see the lowest priced WaterRower option.
If you don’t need water resistance and just want a high quality rowing machine with the best fitness monitor, I suggest checking out the Concept2 Model D. You can read my review of the #1 bestselling rowing machine here.
If you have any questions about my Stamina Wave Water Rowing Machine 1445 review, please leave it in the comment section below!
