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I have been thinking a lot lately about how I would love to have a remote cabin somewhere that I can boat to just to completely unplug. Here in southeast AK there are very few interconnecting roads, and there is only 2 within 300 miles that actually go to the outside world so a boat would be needed which I have. There is land that comes up for sale now and then and I am going be looking for some. Anyway, the purpose of this topic is cabin building, trying to mostly use just the raw trees for building materials perhaps because of transporting or financial issues etc. I have a chainsaw mill, which I consider the bare minimum for making lumber. I have used it to make the timbers for a timber frame I am building in Haines, http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,71863.0.html and while I like that place, That is to be our primary retirement residence. It is on the road system, and has utilities, neighbors, taxes, etc etc etc, not really my idea of remote wilderness living, the edge of wilderness definitely, but still not quite it. And I don't want a full diet of roughing it either, just a place to get away.
I think building a log place is out for me, as it takes too many trees that need to be felled, pealed, drug, lifted, fitted etc etc. I aint getting any younger! I think I would go about it by using my chainsaw mill and make dimensional lumber and stick frame it. If it was too hard to transport plywood I think I would make "ship lap", which is what they used to use before plywood was invented. It is basically 1 by6 or 1x8 planks with a notch, or lap cut along the side of the board so when nailed down the lap of one covers the lap of the next. These are nailed down at a 45 degree angle, both on floors and walls to get the shear strength needed, like so many triangles. I would make the roof with metal roofing so it would shed snow, and probably steep pitched with a sleeping loft above.
Details like making the cabin bear resistant would need to be incorporated as they can make a major mess of things! Propane lights and refrigeration is very handy and not hard to set up. Maybe since this is rain country, having a rain collection and filtration system with a cistern would be nice. While I don't have anything against electricity, it can be a pain to maintain batteries and solar panels, so maybe just have a pitcher pump.. Anyway that is just my dream, in my area. I hope that this thread might turn into a springboard of ideas for building sturdy shelters off the grid. I know this is a dream of a lot of folk and I would love to hear more about their ideas in their own areas, of what has been done or what people would like to have for themselves..
I think building a log place is out for me, as it takes too many trees that need to be felled, pealed, drug, lifted, fitted etc etc. I aint getting any younger! I think I would go about it by using my chainsaw mill and make dimensional lumber and stick frame it. If it was too hard to transport plywood I think I would make "ship lap", which is what they used to use before plywood was invented. It is basically 1 by6 or 1x8 planks with a notch, or lap cut along the side of the board so when nailed down the lap of one covers the lap of the next. These are nailed down at a 45 degree angle, both on floors and walls to get the shear strength needed, like so many triangles. I would make the roof with metal roofing so it would shed snow, and probably steep pitched with a sleeping loft above.
Details like making the cabin bear resistant would need to be incorporated as they can make a major mess of things! Propane lights and refrigeration is very handy and not hard to set up. Maybe since this is rain country, having a rain collection and filtration system with a cistern would be nice. While I don't have anything against electricity, it can be a pain to maintain batteries and solar panels, so maybe just have a pitcher pump.. Anyway that is just my dream, in my area. I hope that this thread might turn into a springboard of ideas for building sturdy shelters off the grid. I know this is a dream of a lot of folk and I would love to hear more about their ideas in their own areas, of what has been done or what people would like to have for themselves..