Aviron assembly
The rowing is easy to build. Get a hand for the heavy parts and the touchscreen.
An Aviron rower goes together fairly easily with the included tools and video, but there are two dozen parts, some heavy, and mounting the big touchscreen is awkward alone. And if a bolt hole will not line up, back the screws out and realign rather than forcing it.
A connected rower, a different kind of build
Aviron makes smart rowing machines, the Strong and Impact series, with a large twenty-two-inch HD touchscreen and a library of games, classes and guided workouts. As the first rower here, it is a different build from a bike or a treadmill: you assemble the rail frame, attach the seat, the handle and the footrests, and then mount the heavy touchscreen and its arm.
The good news is that Aviron includes all the tools and a video guide, and most people find the assembly straightforward. The two things to plan for are the weight, several parts are heavy and the touchscreen is awkward to attach single-handed, so a helper makes it much easier, and the occasional fit issue, where backing the screws out a turn and reseating the part solves a hole that will not line up.
Beyond the build, the things that define living with an Aviron are its size and storage, and its subscription, both worth understanding up front.
The build
Tools and a video included. A helper is worth it.
| Model | Time | People |
|---|---|---|
| Frame and railThe base and seat rail; some heavy parts. | 20 to 30 min | 1 to 2 |
| Seat, handle, footrestsStraightforward with the included tools. | 20 min | 1 |
| Mount the touchscreenAwkward solo; get a hand. See below. | 20 to 30 min | 2 |
| Calibrate and connectOn-screen calibration, then WiFi. See below. | 15 min | 1 |
| Position / storageRowing length, then stand it upright. See below. | 10 min | 1 |
It weighs around 97 pounds. Leave roughly eight to nine feet of length to row, plus room to stand it upright against a wall for storage.
What building and living with an Aviron involves
Get a helper for the heavy parts and the touchscreen
Assembly is mostly easy, but a few components are heavy and the twenty-two-inch touchscreen is genuinely awkward to hold in position and bolt on by yourself. So while it is possible solo, a second person makes the whole job faster and safer, especially for lifting the frame and steadying the screen while you fasten its arm. Have your helper lined up before you start rather than wrestling the screen alone.
If a hole will not line up, back the screws out and realign
The one fit issue owners occasionally hit: a bolt that will not start because the holes are slightly out of alignment. The fix is not to force it, back out the neighbouring screws a turn or two so the part can shift, seat everything square, then run the bolts in and tighten. Starting all the bolts loosely before fully tightening any of them avoids this in the first place. It is a minor, solvable snag rather than a real problem.
Plan the rowing length and the upright storage
A rower needs floor length, roughly eight to nine feet to row, so measure your space. The upside is that it stores upright: front wheels and a collapsible touchscreen arm let it stand vertically against a wall to reclaim the floor. Do bear in mind that at around ninety-seven pounds, standing it up and moving it is a real effort, so put it somewhere you can both use and store it without hauling it far.
Factor in the subscription for the games and classes
The interactive content, the games, guided workouts and classes that Aviron is known for, requires a paid membership, commonly around twenty-nine dollars a month and often billed annually, so it is worth budgeting for. The rower still functions and tracks basic metrics without it, but the engaging content that many people buy an Aviron for sits behind the subscription. So decide whether you want the full experience or mainly the rowing, and factor the ongoing cost into the purchase.
Calibrate and connect it after assembly
Once built, power it on and run the on-screen calibration, in the settings menu, so it tracks your rowing accurately, and connect it to your WiFi to reach the content. If your WiFi is unreliable where the rower lives, there is an Ethernet jack on the back for a wired connection, which some owners use to avoid drop-outs. A few minutes of calibration and connection at setup means it works smoothly from the first session.
Before you build
Line up a helper for the heavy parts and the touchscreen.
Measure for roughly eight to nine feet of rowing length, plus upright storage space.
Plan the WiFi, or a wired Ethernet connection if WiFi is weak there.
Decide whether you want the subscription content, and budget for it.
And keep the included tools and video handy, starting all bolts loose before tightening.
Where an installer helps
By handling the heavy frame and mounting the awkward touchscreen cleanly, the part that most benefits from a second pair of hands.
By starting the hardware loose and aligning everything so no bolt has to be forced.
By calibrating the machine and getting it connected, wired if the WiFi is flaky.
The build is not hard, so help is most valuable for a fast, correctly-aligned setup with the screen mounted safely, and for positioning it where you can both row and store it upright.
What an installer does
- Assembles the frame, seat, handle and footrests with the included tools.
- Mounts the touchscreen and its arm securely, with a second person.
- Aligns any tight hardware rather than forcing it, then tightens fully.
- Calibrates the machine and connects it to WiFi or Ethernet.
- Positions it with rowing length and confirms the upright storage works.
- Shows you the basics of the display and how to fold it for storage.
Get it built by someone who has built one before.
Tell us your ZIP and what you bought. Installers near you will quote you directly, and you deal with them, not with us.
Questions people ask
Is it hard to assemble?
Not really, Aviron includes all the tools and a video guide and most people find it straightforward. The two things to plan for are the weight, several parts are heavy and the touchscreen is awkward to mount alone, so a helper is worth it, and the occasional fit issue, where backing the screws out a turn and reseating the part fixes a hole that will not line up. Starting all bolts loose before tightening avoids most snags.
How much space does it need?
Around eight to nine feet of length to row, so measure your room. It does store upright, though, front wheels and a folding touchscreen arm let it stand against a wall to save floor space. Bear in mind it weighs about ninety-seven pounds, so standing it up and moving it takes real effort, place it where you can both use and store it easily.
Do I need the subscription?
For the games, classes and guided content Aviron is known for, yes, that requires a paid membership, commonly about twenty-nine dollars a month and often billed annually. The rower still works and tracks basic metrics without it, but the interactive experience sits behind the subscription, so decide whether you want the full content or mainly the rowing, and budget for the ongoing cost.
How do I set it up after building it?
Power it on and run the on-screen calibration in the settings menu so it tracks accurately, then connect it to your WiFi for the content. If WiFi is unreliable where the rower lives, there is an Ethernet jack on the back for a wired connection that avoids drop-outs. A few minutes of calibration and connection gets it working smoothly from the first row.
Is it suitable for taller or heavier users?
Yes, it is one of its strengths, the Aviron rowers have a high weight capacity, around five hundred pounds on the Strong series, and a long rail that suits taller users. They carry a ten-year frame warranty with two years on parts and the touchscreen, and a thirty-day return window, so there is room to try it.
Installers.org is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Aviron. Aviron is a trademark of its owner, referred to here only to describe the assembly services that independent installers on this directory provide.