Do It Yourself Rowing Machine Guide

Building your own DIY rowing machine is easier than you may think. Rowing is one of the best ways to work all major muscle groups throughout the body while still improving your cardiovascular health. Purchasing a rowing machine is a considerable investment and in some cases, the rower can be inaccessible, such as while traveling.

We will explore two easy ways to make a custom rowing machine that include a version that anyone can put together.

1.   Easy: Skateboard Rowing Machine

Supplies

• 1 skateboard
• 2 dumbbell-sized crates or blocks of wood (for footrest)
• 2 resistance bands
• 1 metal rod or wooden dowel (about a foot in length for handle)
• Sturdy upright structure (for anchoring the resistance bands)

Procedure

1. Find a low upright structure that will be used as the base of the skateboard rower. You can use a table leg, another workout machine, a porch beam, or a hook safely anchored to a wall.
2. Make the foot anchor by placing the crates or blocks of wood against the upright structure.

Place the first one lengthwise to provide distance from the low base.

Place the second block or crate sideways against the first block. The structure should look like a “T” formation so both your feet can rest on it.

3. Tie one end of one band to one of your skateboard’s axles and the other end to the upright structure slightly above the T-structure. The skateboard should now roll smoothly forward and backward without touching the foot anchor.
4. Tie one end of the second band around the middle of the rod or dowel you’ll be using as a handle and the other end to the low upright structure. The handle should be at your chest position when you sit on your skateboard.

You can increase resistance by simply adding multiple bands to the structure and handle.  Sit on your skateboard, grab the handle, place your feet on the T-shaped anchor, and row.

2.   Medium: Shoelace Rower

Tools and supplies

• Low upright structure
• 1 power drill
• 1 appropriately-sized drill bit set
• 1 permanent marker
• 2 shoe laces
• 1 seat cushion
• 1 set of resistance bands
• 1 piece of plywood (15” x 20”)
• 4 caster wheels
• 1 rod, pipe, or dowel (1 foot long)
• 16 bolts and nuts
• 1 office chair floor mat (ideal for carpeted floors) or 1 rubber floor mat (perfect for other floors)

Procedure

·       Resistance base

1. Tie one end of the resistance bands to the low upright structure. The level of resistance will be determined by the number of bands used.
2. Be sure to leave enough room to fit your floor mat as well as the length of the resistance bands. You can use a tree, a porch beam, one bed leg, or even a low staircase banister.
3. Anchor the other end of your bands to the middle of the item you are using as a handle.

·       Rolling seat

1. Place the caster wheels symmetrically on each corner of your piece of plywood. The wheels should be placed wheel plate side down and a few inches from the outer edges.
2. Use a permanent marker to outline the borders of the wheel plates and mark the spots where you’ll drill holes for the bolts.
3. Drill the 16 holes using the power drill and drill bit.
4. Bolt the wheels to the plywood with the bolts on the same side as the caster wheels.
5. Place the cushion on the rolling seat and secure it using glue or staples.

·       Foot anchor

1. Let’s make the foot anchor out of the shoe laces and floor mats. Be sure to use the right mat depending on your floor. The surface beneath the rolling seat should not slip around or skid while you’re exercising. In some cases, you may have to use both mats by placing one mat on top of the other.
2. Drill two holes 2 inches from the front section of your mat or mats and about hip-width apart.
3. Make 2 shoelace loops by tying the ends of your shoelaces together.
4. Thread one shoelace loop approximately halfway through each mat hole to create stirrups where you’ll be placing your feet.

·       Putting all the pieces together

1. Now, let’s set it all up. Extend your handle and resistance band straight in front of the sturdy low structure as far as the resistance bands go without stretching.
2. Place the mat with the stirrups approximately a foot in front of your handlebar. Ensure that the shoelace side is facing the handlebar.
3. Place the rolling seat symmetrically on top of the mat.
4. Sit on the custom rolling seat and place your feet in the loops (each foot in one loop) of the shoelace stirrups. Grab the handle and row away.

This DIY rowing machine is extremely portable. You can simply roll up the resistance band and floor mats, place them on the custom rolling seat and take the whole system away with you.

The bottom line

Rowing has many benefits to offer that cannot be found in most cardio machines such as ellipticals or treadmills. You can buy excellent rowers for home gyms, and affordable alternatives are available too, but elite models may cost up to a thousand dollars or even more.

Luckily, building a do-it-yourself rowing machine is quite easy, something that is quite difficult when it comes to an elliptical or a treadmill. In addition, the rowing machine comes with a bunch of unique benefits such as working more muscles, improving physical and cardiovascular strength, burning calories, and improving posture.

Moreover, rowing is a low-impact and surprisingly safe workout. Although rowing looks like just one simple exercise, minor adjustments can quickly turn it into a low-intensity endurance gruel or a high-intensity sprint.

Now that you’ve read our comprehensive DIY rowing machine guide, you should be convinced that building one is not that hard.