Making Narrowboat Living Accessible: How One Customer Found Freedom with a Narrowboat mobility lift with Motorstep

From tranquil canal cruises to the charm of life on the water, living aboard a narrowboat can be a dream—unless mobility issues make stepping on and off the boat difficult. That was the challenge faced by one of our customers, until she installed a narrowboat mobility lift from Motorstep. Now, she enjoys year-round comfort and independence aboard her beautiful floating home.

The Challenge: Steep Steps and Limited Mobility

Life aboard a narrowboat comes with its quirks, especially for those with limited mobility. In the photos above, you’ll see the original steep steps leading from the deck down into the galley and living area. These steps posed a major obstacle for our customer.

Common challenges included:

• Interior Constraints – The compact design of a narrowboat leaves little space for ramps or large installations.

• Safety Concerns – The steep steps created a risk of slips or falls.

• Daily Impact – Simple tasks like cooking or moving between spaces became stressful or unsafe.

The Solution: Installing a Motorstep Mobility Lift

Instead of modifying the entire boat, our customer opted to replace the steep steps with a Motorstep mobility lift. This compact, platform-style lift fits neatly into tight spaces and gently raises or lowers the user at the touch of a button.

Key Benefits:

• Compact & Space-Saving – Fits into narrowboat interiors without wasting valuable space.

• No Major Modifications – Installed with minimal disruption to the boat’s structure.

• Effortless Operation – User-friendly controls for smooth up-and-down movement

Before: The original steep steps leading into the narrowboat made daily access a constant challenge.

After: The Motorstep lift provides a safe, smooth transition between levels without the need for climbing steps.

Year-Round Comfort and Independent Living

Since the installation of her narrowboat mobility lift, our customer has experienced an incredible improvement in quality of life aboard.

She now enjoys:

• Safer Movement – Reduced risk of falls when accessing the galley or deck.

• Greater Independence – She can move freely around her home without assistance.

• Full Use of Her Boat – From cooking to relaxing outdoors, everything is within reach.

Why Motorstep is the Ideal Narrowboat Mobility Lift

Motorstep was designed with compact living in mind. Whether you’re living aboard permanently or just enjoy weekends on the water, it’s the perfect accessibility upgrade.

Why Motorstep stands out:

• Minimal Footprint – Ideal for confined or tricky spaces.

• Portable & Flexible – Can be moved or removed if needed.

• Quick Installation – No need for costly or intrusive modifications.

• All-Weather Reliability – Designed for year-round use in UK conditions.

Experience Freedom on the Water

If steep steps or mobility limitations are standing between you and the narrowboat lifestyle you love, the Motorstep narrowboat mobility lift might be the perfect solution.

It transformed this customer’s daily life—why not yours?

Ready to make your narrowboat more accessible? Contact us today to learn more about Motorstep and how we can help you move freely and safely.