Looking for some wisdom...

[Zuman]

I've spent the last eight months erging and now I want to get on the water.
Here's my situation:
I'm 67 and retired last month. I took to my Concept 2 like, uh, a duck to water, and finished my first million meters in six months. I've been doing my boat research and have pretty much settled on an Edon TS515.
But...
My wife - also retired - has never shown any interest in using my rowing machine, and I'm skeptical that she'd commit to a sculling boat. But I value my marriage, and I'm hesitant to make a major commitment to what seems to be a fairly solitary endeavor.
The nearest lake worth rowing is about 45-50 minutes away, so I'm figuring that I'd be committing at least an entire morning or afternoon every time I hit the water. It's not just that I'd be gone three of four times a week; it's more that I'd be starting a new "thing" that doesn't include her.
I've thought about taking the chance and buying two boats - one for each of us - because if she doesn't take to sculling it seems that a TS515 would not be hard to sell.
So, have any of you found a great solution to this kind of situation? If so, I'd love to hear it! My wife and I have talked a bit about it, but she doesn't really seem to want to engage in the discussion so we don't really move off square one.
Thanks!

[Cyclist2]

Boy, do I hear you! My wife is very active as a aerobics class instructor and personal trainer, so she is fit. We ride our bikes together, but she isn't quite as strong as I am, so at least one of us is uncomfortable during rides. Solution: Get a tandem. We love it!

Rowing. I have a Maas Aero and the leaving her out of it aspect bugs me too. I've gotten her out in it a few times and she likes it, but I'm either stuck on shore while she practices (on a very small lake), or we go to the club and I get a single shell there to accompany her (at a huge open water site). Same problem - she is just learning and I get cold staying with her. I do a few sprints to get warmed up but don't want to leave her out there on her own too long. Safety is paramount.

I'm always checking row2k and other sites for boats - a racing single for myself and a double for us. They are rare or on the wrong coast.

But, before any of that works for you, you have to get her hooked on the idea. Once she get enthusiastic on her own, then sorting out boats and time, etc. gets a little easier. It's a work in progress. We're still working at it. Good luck with your new endeavor, I hope she joins in.

[Zuman]

Thanks, Cyclist2!
I used to do a lot of riding and had the same issue. I used to do centuries, and back then I'd do the 100 while my wife and daughters would do one of the shorter options that they usually offered. I hadn't thought about looking for rowing parallels with cycling.

[jackarabit]

I believe the logistics of remote launch and recovery will dull your zeal pretty damn skippy. How do I know this? I ain’t telling. Find a rowing club. 45’ trip one way is doable deadhead but I suggest joining a rowing club, paying the dues and tearing around in one of their beaters to test the waters so to speak. Pay the wife tax; buy her a rock!

[jamesg]

I've a fibreglass K2 and a carbon Filippi S 1x at about 30 minute drive from home, on a lake at a Lido with restaurant and an open shack with boat racks. We use the kayak far more than the shell and take it to the sea as well.

The lake's 5km long and years ago sculling the length and back took me just under an hour. It was splendid, sculling early morning in spring on a deserted dead flat lake with snow on the hills and a low sun through the mist; waking up the gulls and watching fish jumping.. In that shell, the speed limit is me, not the boat and it's very hard work.

The K2 is fun too, as well as lighter and shorter, and we see where we're going. It's easy to maintain speed, about 6 km/h, and to go ashore if we see an ice-cream parlor or something. A stable polyester glass K2 that won't tip you in the drink, with two pairs of good carbon paddles will be less than half the price of a shell.

[G-dub]

I will echo Jacks suggestion about joining a club. It’s fun to row with others as well as in a single, you don’t have to own equipment and if it doesn’t suit, you don’t have a boat to sell. The social part can be welcoming too

[frankieboy]

Another small issue you may need to consider.

As both you and your wife are novices buying a double scull is a particularly bad idea. Learning to scull in an Edon TS515 is not difficult, the first few outings are a bit tricky but once things start falling into place it begins to get good. A bit like learning to surf, ok maybe only a bit like, bit imagine learning to surf with another complete novice surfer on the same board at the same time.

Buy 2 singles

[RR]

Join a club. I joined a club near me in Cognac, France 3 years ago and eventually got on the water.
We go out in doubles, quads and eights twice a week and hopefully later this year will get the hang of a single scull.
Great environment and camaraderie plus helps with my French
Courage