ORIGINAL Series — About Your Rower

Locating your rower’s serial number

Original / S4 / Series IV with S4 Monitor
Original with S4 Bluetooth Monitor

The serial number is a silver shield-shaped label located on the rear of the monitor.

Close-up of a rowing machine's monitor showing the serial number on a label, set against a wooden floor with workout equipment in the background.

Original Performance / Performance Ergometer
Original CityRow Connect
Original Pro

The serial number is a silver shield-shaped label located on the trapezoidal metal bracket behind the footboard on the right hand side of the machine (as viewed when sitting on the rower).

Close-up view of a WaterRower, highlighting the silver shield-shaped label on the rear of the monitor, indicating the serial number.

Your rower’s finish

Original Series rowers come in a variety of finishes. Depending on when you purchased your rower, some finishes have changed names over the years as noted below.

OAK
Northern Red Oak hand-rubbed with Danish Oil.

VINTAGE
Select premium hardwood hand-rubbed with a luxurious vintage oak stain.

SHADOW
Select premium hardwood hand-rubbed with a rich black stain.
Past name: Black

CLUB
Select premium hardwood hand-rubbed with a durable two-tone rose and black stain.

CHERRY
American Black Cherry hand-rubbed with Danish oil.
Past name: Oxbridge

WALNUT
Black Walnut hand-rubbed with Danish oil.
Past name: Classic

ASH (Discontinued)
White Ash hand-rubbed with Danish oil.
Past name: Natural

BEECH (Discontinued)
European Beech hand-rubbed with Danish oil.

Identifying your rower’s clutch

A critical component of all WaterRower models is the sprag-style clutch — the largest of the pulleys in the main tank assembly. The clutch is attached directly to the handle strap with velcro or a bolt, depending on when your rower was built.

S4 / Series IV produced before early 2013

Up until approximately the beginning of 2013, on S4 / Series IV all-wood rowers had metal clutches and the handle strap were attached using velcro.

A close-up view of a rower's clutch, showing a round black component with a textured edge and a metal center.

Close-up view of a black clutch mechanism for a rowing machine, featuring a central rod and a textured circular base.

Original / S4 / Series IV produced after early 2013
Original CityRow Connect (all)
Original Pro (all)

After early 2013, all Original Series rowers (Original / S4 / Series IV, Original CityRow Connect, and Original Pro) have newer-style plastic clutches. On these models, the handle strap is attached to the clutch with a bolt.