The Project
Idling By No.2 is an English traditional style narrowboat.
The lined out hull of the vessel was commissioned by us, (Paul & Diane Walker) with the intention of using it as a live aboard vessel for a retirement adventure trip in mainland Europe. When the adventure began was dependant on completion not only of the fit-out of the boat but also on completion of work on our home, a previously uncared for old house we had been restoring over a period of years. Enough work was completed on the house at the end of 2004. It was decided that in reality the work would never really end but we had done enough for now.
Paul was already retired and Diane gave notice of her intention to retire at the end of March 2005.
The hull of Idling By No.2 was built in December 2001 By Jonathan Wilson at Thorne in Yorkshire, England. The engine was fitted and the vessel lined out by Louis & Joshua Boatbuilders also at Thorne in January 2002.
The fit-out was carried out by us and completed (if such work ever is completed) by the middle of 2003 and thus some cruising took place on the English canal system in 2003 and 2004, enough time to test out the vessel's systems.