Cheers,

but what is the drag factor? Is it a setting that should be ltered or a measure of how clogged the fan is?

[edit] too quick there!

So the drag factor is realy what i should be setting when adjusting the resistance, i did notice that the new gym machines I set the resitance 1 and a bit higher than the ones in the council gym.

In theory yes but unless you're competing the fan setting is usually good enough.

As you've noticed, older machines tend to feel lighter as they get clogged

edit – same model new And old that you were comparing?

lighter, you mean tighter surely as it clogs up?

Either way the expensive gym's machines are 'easier' in the same setting.

as the fan clogs the oar feels lighter. As it clogs it changes less air wiht outside, the drag factor drops and the fan slows less during the return. It is replicating how much the boat speed through the water drops.

Ha, so your saying the super expensive flashy gym is actualy shoddier than the council run hell hole 🙂

Well maybe. Either that or heavier ones are really knackered and the bearings are going.