Lazy Days was built in 1930 alongside the Aire and Calder Navigation in Castleford. It is believed that during the Second World War, the vessel was attached to HMS Wildfire. At the time of the Dunkirk evacuation, Lazy Days was owned by M.V. Lazarus and spent three days ferrying troops from East Beach amid intense air attacks. The vessel returned to England with significant damage, including many ribs broken at the waterline.

Following Dunkirk, while engaged in parachute mine patrol duties, a mutiny occurred aboard Lazy Days. The vessel’s Petty Officer, an experienced yacht skipper, took exception to a young Lieutenant who came aboard during her duty boat assignment. After consuming excessive alcohol at lunchtime, the Petty Officer struck the Lieutenant when he was criticized about the course being steered. The Petty Officer was subsequently sentenced at a Chatham Court Martial to 90 days in military detention. However, while being escorted from Chatham to Bristol, he escaped custody and disappeared.

After the war, despite the vessel’s poor condition, Lazy Days was rebuilt under private ownership in 1952, effectively restored as new, and a wheelhouse was added at that time. The vessel saw extensive use on the Thames and was moored at Cadogan Pier. Following further changes in ownership, Lazy Days was sheathed in ferrocrete, fitted with a new teak deck, and equipped with twin Ford engines prior to her return to service in 2000.

In 1953, Lazy Days participated in the Royal River Pageant alongside vessels Massey Shaw and White Orchid. Later, after a collision with the vessel known as "the cobbler" below Windsor Bridge, she changed ownership again and had the ferrocrete removed.

Between 2007 and 2009, Lazy Days cruised extensively through the canals of the Low Countries and became well known for her distinctive and vibrant artwork both inside and out. After returning in 2010, the vessel was sold to her current owners, who use her as a family boat. Following a re-engining and extensive refit completed before 2015, Lazy Days was restored to excellent condition.

Lazy Days was also featured in the 2015 Palau postage stamp series titled "The Little Ships of Dunkirk." After a period moored at St Katharine’s Dock in London, she is now berthed in Ramsgate, known as "The Harbour of Happiness," where it is hoped she will provide many years of enjoyment to Mr. and Mrs. Finn, their family, and friends.