Description

Idly Dan is a 4 berth traditional narrowboat built by David Piper, originally designed as a showboat for the West Trundling Company. We have called Idly Dan home for the past 5 years, over which we have lovingly modernised and redecorated her, staying true to the original design. She’s ready to move aboard and fully equipped for liveaboards.

Idly Dan was very well designed with comfort and ease of living in mind. There is storage everywhere (very unusual for a narrowboat!), which you appreciate when you're living on a boat. We’ll write a full list of the storage below.

We got Idly Dan out of the water in April 2024 and had a complete survey including a reading of the hull thickness, jet-washed hull, 3 coats of Rylard blacking all over including base plate, 4 new anodes and overplated the wet gas locker. As well as this we have also freshly painted the gunwales, roof, hatches, outside seating areas and sides of the boat.

Over Idly Dan’s life she has been well cared for, we have a big folder of receipts for the various work and DIY that’s been done over the years, including a full plug welded over the plate in 2018. The current BSS is until 2025, which was passed with no recommendations.

We’ve made a lot of improvements over the years to make the space even more livable including but not limited to;
Engineered wooden flooring throughout. This is great for boat life because it has the look and feel of wood but is lighter and reacts well to changes in temperature.
2 large solar panels.
Bespoke furniture: module sofa, hatch door stairs and spice rack
Bespoke blinds throughout. Easily adjustable D-ring linen curtains. These have been sewn with a waterproof fabric on the back to protect them from any stains. The curtains are easily removable if you want to wash them or simply want to take in more of the views!

Included in the boat sale is a Clarke generator worth £500, anchor and life ring.

Layout from front to back: outside bow seating area, living area, kitchen, sofa area (can fold into bunk beds), bathroom, bedroom, engine room, traditional stern.

Bow seating area

Large outdoor seating area able to sit 4 people comfortably with space for folding table.

Living area

When you enter the boat there are cupboards on either side and an alcove big enough for a small desk. When you continue you have the module sofa and Arrow multifuel stove. This sofa can be used in an L shape, longer bench style or with the cube detached as a stool/footrest.

Kitchen

L-shaped kitchen with integrated sink and draining board. 12V fridge/freezer, lots of kitchen storage. Vanette 4 Ring gas hob with Grill and oven below.

Sofa/ bunk bed area

There is a large sofa facing the hatch which is perfect for sitting down with a coffee and looking out onto the cut. This sofa can be folded out into a bunk bed- perfect for having guests stay!

Bathroom

The bathroom is a fully tiled wet room with lots of cupboards. Compost toilet. Heated towel rail (from the back boiler). Whale Gulper shower pump.

Bedroom

Such a cute little bedroom! A small double bed frame with a bookshelf above. 2 spotlights for reading and an overhead light. In-built recessed bedside shelf perfect for a morning coffee! Wardrobe with shelves and hanging rail beside boxed-in water tank. Door-mounted half-length mirror.

Engine room

Again another generous room (in boat terms!), space to comfortably fit a bike and generator.


Full specs -
Year built; 1982
Boatbuilder: David Piper
Water tank: large integrated water tank in the bow. Hot water tank with engine calorifier and immersion heater (shore power only)
Gas locker: wet gas locker at stern with space for two 13kg gas bottles. Base Overplated in 2024
Engine: Thornycroft BMC 1.5
Solar panels: 2 x 275W Solar Panels, MPPT Charge Controller
Batteries: 4 x 110ah batteries
Stern: Traditional, Cutlass bearing, prop shaft coupling and rubber stern seal all replaced this year. Stern gland repacked
Doors: 3. Bow, stern and side hatch.
Windows: 7 Porthole, 8 rectangle windows
Berth: 4 plus space for more. 1 fixed small double, 1 fold-away bunk bed, module sofa can be made into a small single big enough for a child)
Fridge/freezer: 12V fridge with freezer shelf.
Lights: Hurricane lampshades in the living area. Spotlights in kitchen, sofa area and hallway. Overhead light in bathroom. Overhead light and 2 spotlights in the bedroom. The overhead light in the engine room.
Flooring: Engineered wooden floorboards
Heating: wood burner with back boiler radiator in bedroom and heated towel rail in bathroom
Cooking: 4 gas burner, grill and oven. Vanette GG700
Electrical system: 12V system for powering lights and fridge. 240V inverter for charging laptops and phones
Toilet type: compost

Additional features:
Steel hatches for security
Double glazed windows

Storage:
-Bow seats are both drawers and we used them as a little garage for wood and coal and paints and inflatable kayak. You can access this storage from inside the boat too so don't have to go outside in the rain to get more wood for the fire!
-Large cupboard when you enter the boat with shelves
-Drinks cabinet with glass storage
-Custom-made module sofa with storage underneath
-Cupboard on living room divider - perfect for cooking bits you don't need to access daily
-Kitchen has multiple cupboards, drawers and shelves including a custom spice rack
-Hatch stairs are usable drawers
-Under the middle sofa is 3 large drawers
-Left-hand side of the sofa is a clothes cupboard with a rail and 2 drawers above and below
-Bathroom has a large cupboard under the sink, smaller one above, vanity with shelves and additional shelf/towel rack
-Bedroom has large clothes cupboard with rail and large shelves. Also a set of smaller drawers. Has a shelf above the bed too perfect for books
-Underneath the bed is all storage, 2 drawers you can access and 2 more under the mattress
-Engine room has 3 large shelves and clothes hanging hooks and big enough to store a bike
-External storage underneath solar panel
- Throughout the entire boat there is a teak shelf which is useful for everyday bits

A lot of space! Makes all the difference when living aboard - especially if you're a couple, we found that we had a home for everything.

Please get in contact if you'd like to see a video of the boat. We’re flexible with viewing times. We’re currently cruising Idly Dan so the location will change fortnightly but coming into East London.

Specifications

Accommodation

Construction

Equipment

Location Map