Time to sign up and say hello

[StewB]

I purchased little house plans last fall and have been lurking here ever since.  I have learned a tremendous amount about building and have picked up a lot of good ideas I want to incorporate into a small cabin I will start in March. 

I am building on a remote river in NorthWest BC.  It's about a 90 minute ride by jet boat so every thing gets hauled by boat.  So far to build my version of the 12x18 little house I figure I am going to be hauling over 6000 lbs.  Boat hauls about 1500 on top of fuel and normal gear so it will take a few trips. 

Cabin will be 12x18 with a 12x8 covered porch on the end facing the river.  Also am building a 6x6 bathroom that will extend off the other end of the cabin.  Bathroom will have rv toilet (for the gals) and a shower.  Hot water via a RV hot water tank and pump.  Water collected from metal roof into 1200 litre storage tank( it rains 100 plus inches a year around here).  Toilet will exit into pit that will also accomodate an out house (for the guys).  Gray water from shower and kitchen sink will exit to second small covered pit.  12V system for pump and floresant lights from two deep cycles kept toped up via solar panal and small gen set.  Two propane RV fridges, one can act as freezer if cranked up to max.  RV stove and range for cooking.  Sleeping arrangements are queen size bed in corner of room for me and the misses, 10 foot long sleeping loft for daughter and the table will make down into to double bed if we get any guests or I have some of the guys up.  Cabin is not for winter use as the river freezes up but will get use from April thru to October for stealhead and salmon fishing as well as moose hunting.

Well thats enough for a first post.  I have a few questions I'll ask over the next while and perhaps I can even have some positive input for others.

Stew

[Redoverfarm]

StewB . Sounds like a ideal project. A lot of logistics involved so you don't forget something at home.  If you could find or utilize something like a small barge pulled by the boat you could probably cut your trips in half.

John

[StewB]

I am going to get some help from a couple of friends with jet boats.  But I am also looking at using a herring punt (30 ft aluminum flat bottom not unlike a jet sled) that can carry a few tons at a time to make one or two big trips rather than lots of smaller trips.

I am also pre cutting all the rafters, wall studs, floor joices ect in my shop at home to minimize the amount of on site work.  On site work will be helped along with 4000 watt honda, 5 hp compressor and nail guns.

Cabin is situated 40 ft above high water with a fairly steep hill.  I bought and modified a cart with wheel barrel size tires to haul lumber up the hill.  It will have a quad winch and battery mounted on the front so it can haul 500 lbs or so up the hill at a time.  Probabley make a good moose hauler as well.

[glenn kangiser]

Welcome to the forum, Stew.  Sounds like a great project.

[Redoverfarm]

StewB it would be nice if you could locate a pontoon boat. It would be ideal.  When you get to hauling things remember to take an extra spark plug for the generator and a couple cans of "fix a flat" , spare tire and a little compressor. Nothing will make you appreciate more than fixing a flat on the buggy instead of carring all the stuff to the top.

[firefox]

Welcome aboard Stew, just a wild idea, but if the river freezes over, can you figure some way to
sled the stuff up the river?
Bruce

[StewB]

Sleding is not an option.  river does not so much freeze over as fill with ice.  also this is a north coast river so not alot of snow and it never stays long when it does.  The geography just doesn't allow for a sled trip.  Besides, stealheading starts in April and moose ends in October/November.  Not much to do from Nov to March.  All the sledding we do around here is in the mountains in subalpine meadows and above the tree line.  Thats how I keep busey during the winter.  That and scrounging stuff for the new cabin.

Stew

[ScottA]

Welcome Stew. Sounds like a fun project. Stay determined and you'll get there no matter how many trips it takes.

[John_M]

Sounds great...just curious...what type of foundation were you thinking?   

[StewB]

Post and pier as per the little house plans.  Not sure how high off the ground as I have only given the site a quick check over but I expect it will be about 16" in the low corner and 22 " or so in the high corner.  I want enough room under it to mount batteries, RV hot water tank run water lines ect. I will adjust to allow enough room for me to crawl around under it.