This week on the island we started building a shower!
A warm shower is something we really want to be able to take on the island. In order to get the tankless water heater to work we need a shower structure to keep it out of the rain. We have a lot of smaller logs left over from our deck build so I decided to try and create the structure for a shower out them. I didn’t research for this specifically just started building it, thinking back to videos I have watched in the past. The shower is going to have a slanted roof to keep water and snow from piling up on top. First, I cut the logs to length and debarked them, then I started assembling. Putting the frame together was a bit difficult but once everything was connected it got a lot easier. After it was a box but it still had a lot of wiggle, so I added some crossbeams and it became very stable. The frame is now ready and we have all of the equipment on the island thanks to Rävel Kauppa to get the shower running in our upcoming trips!
We got the water pump, tankless water heater and food given to us by Rävel Kauppa a small Finnish company: https://www.ravelkauppa.com/
Check them out if you are Finland!
More about us, the island and the process:
The island is completely secluded, has no electricity or plumbing and currently has nothing on it but trees. We want to turn this island into a fully functioning summer cottage with a log cabin, sauna and other amenities. Most of the work is gonna be done in the summer months as the lake freezes in the winter and the weather conditions are tough.
There’s a lot of work to be done as the island is over 2.5 acres (1 hectare) and we have no experience in off-grid living, carpentry or building. So any tips or advice are greatly appreciated, as we are planning on doing everything ourselves and transforming the island into our own little paradise. We’ll document every step of the way, starting from smaller builds to finally – an off-grid log cabin.
Our plan for this year is to put up a platform for a glamping tent, build a floating dock and start cutting down trees to begin the process of building our log cabin.
The island is located in Finland and we bought it in 2024. We are currently both students and we plan to transform the island alongside our studies.
So, subscribe and join us on this adventure. It won’t be fast, it won’t be easy, but it will be fun and challenging. We don’t know what to expect, so be a part of the journey.
📸 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @off.grid.island
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Some screws could have come in handy during this build.. or a battery powered nail gun 👌🏽
Does your girlfriend not help you at all
Freeze your ass off come winter
Very nice progress and regarding Helena,she can do whatever she wants and doesn’t have to take orders from your bossy viewer who thinks he knows everything.
Your hammering name is surely The Lightning… Never hits the same spot twice 🤣
Really appreciate the filming, sound and editing. It's all just right. That's big part of this kind of project to work for the viewer and it does not disappoint.
Who locks an outhouse?
Whats the benefit of debarking the wood? Wouldn’t it be easier and last longer with the bark on?
I'd paint the outhouse if i were you
You can use the Treebark to make the path better
My wife and I watching your series and development with joy. We have a plot of land in Finland aswell and will steal your shower and dock ideas! Promise! 😅 Keep up the good work
You guys got a really awesome project with this island and your videos are great! Regarding the idea you said about using a plastic container to house the water pump, keep in mind that it needs airflow to correctly dissipate heat as all motors do. So if the housing is to small, lacks ventilation and the ambient temperature is high enough you could drastically reduce the pump's life and in a extreme situation it can even burn down. In your location, if it's cold enough and you use it in short periods of time you may get away with it. So if i were you, I would try to get an opinion of someone with experience in this kind of setup around your location.
I’m surprised that you didn’t use an existing tree as one of the legs to give it real stability.
probably worth getting some strong cordage and a large tarp and stretch it taut over your deck/tent area. if you going to be not there sometimes for 2 weeks at the time it would stand to reason a bit of an additional protection for the tent from falling branch debris as well as excessive wet. you don't want mold to grow on your nice white tent or sharp branch making a puncture when you are not there and have it leak for days when rain season in full swing. also leaves and needles won't stain or sap your tent fabric
roll of stainless wire and a pair of plyers can be a big help building stuff out of round wood. once woo dries and shrinks, you can go back and tighten wire some more.
for the walls you can get some plastic shower curtains and nail or staple all around. unless you want something more substantial. theoretically you can use galvanized or aluminium roofing on the walls as well. also there is PVC plastic roofing that can be used for the walls as well. if you mount it on the inside of the shower it'll keep wooden frame dry and should prevent rot. also look less bushcrafty 🙂
another way to dry entire tree is 'dry-standing' method. remove bark and living cambium layer underneath all around the circumference of the tree near the base. this will cut off nutrient flow from roots to the canopy and tree will die. then it left standing however long you need and it will dry naturally loose bark and then you cut it down when ready to build and you already have pretty much dry log to build with. this is commonly used method of tree harvesting an some parts of the world. cutting it down and letting it dry on the ground is more work and less efficient, as you need to stack them and keep off the ground so they don't rot, possibly remove bark as well if you want the dry faster. but then pile of log sitting in the middle of the wooded area not going to get whole a lot of air circulation in comparison to individually standing trees nicely spaced apart for air to flow around. i think dry standing method works well for your situation when you are not in a hurry to build a house and don't spend a lot of time on the property
Are you an American in Finland, or a Finn with impeccable English?
Build these long, narrow thungs on the ground sideways. Use diagonal cross-bracing to keep everything from wobbling around. Use long screws. They will hold a whole lot better than nails. If you are going to use plywood for the sides, do it while it lays on the ground. Add sime flat slats for a floor. Leave a good 2cm between slats for drainage.
They definitely make extension cords (USA) over 100 feet (32m aprox). Just be sure to get a thicker gauge wire. It will mitigate voltage drop and heat build-up. Build as secure a structure as you can for the pump. And make it as camouflaged as possible from shore. Diagonal bracing, only 40-45cm in the top of the doorway in the shower will really tighten up the wiggle. You guys are doing great. Switching to screws will help make these projects easier, and if you decide to go a different way with the project they are easy to remove and reuse.
Could you do things like show the trip to the woodstove shop? I'm in the US and would be really interested in how European thing are done. A trip to the Fiscars plant? A reindeer farm perhaps? Something to do when weather keeps you off the island. And all that would be fascinating to me, and hopefully others. Thanks.
I've been watching similar videos, have you considered a milling chainsaw?
Martijn Doolaard (youtubessa) asui yli vuoden samanlaisessa teltassa Pohjoid-Italian vuoristossa missä tulee ihan kunnon talvi. Hänen videoista saanee vinkin kamiinaan. Video nro 38 on myös piipun läpiviennin tekeminen aika selkeästi esitettynä.
Projekti edistyy hyvin ottaen huomioon, että olette vin viikonloput saarella. Hommatkaa Bluettiin aurinkopaneeli virtaa varten?
love the progress…i say this with peace and love…why not modify or extend the out house into a shower? great job!
Temu versio of zonevd
Add two more poles on the side where the door is. One on each side of the gap, for extra sturdiness, but great work, keep up the good work!
You need to get rid of that kiddy hammer and get a propoer framing hammer at leas 20 oz its pain full to watch you nail because your hammer is to light. Please dont takje this as a hatefull commennt its constructuive not malice.
Love all you’re doing!! Trial and error is the only way to learn and grow!! Keep it up!!
you need a pump shed