Hello — welcome aboard. I’m Ken, and I live full-time on my 67-foot narrowboat on the Grand Union. And this — tucked neatly in the boatman’s cabin — is my Estarli e20.X in Bronze with Dutch bars.

Living off-grid means everything has to be efficient, and amazingly, charging the bike barely touches my solar power. That was the first big win.

I discovered Estarli the narrowboater’s way: cruising through Berkhamsted, spotting the factory by the canal, mooring up a few hundred metres away, and popping in for a tour. After researching all sorts of e-bikes, choosing a British-built one just felt right.

What sold me on the e20.X was the belt drive and automatic gears. No chain, no mess, no wrong gear at the bottom of the hill — it just shifts for you. And the disc brakes give real confidence on busy roads.

For boat life, the folding design is ideal. My old folding bike was so heavy I hardly used it. This one is lighter, compact, and simple to lift on and off the boat. Brilliant when you’re dealing with big lock flights — I can cycle ahead, set the lock, and save all that walking back and forth.

Out in the countryside you’re often moored miles from any shop. With the e20.X, I just fold it, pop it in its bag, put it in the trolley, do the shopping, and ride back. No buses, no long trudges.

The 20-inch wheels give great stability on towpaths, and the pedal assist takes the strain off my arthritic knees, so I can keep moving comfortably.

Next we’re heading into London, and I’m looking forward to exploring areas I’ve never reached from the canal. Wherever I moor, the bike lets me go a few miles further and see a bit more.

It’s changed how I shop, explore, commute — everything.
For boat life, it just makes sense.