Cabelas alaknak concerns

[jeepster]

Hows it goin all. First of all, I do own an alaknak 12x12 and absolutely love it, it's got all the goodies, Colorado cylinder stove, and what not, and it performs awesome.

What I am wondering is how well an alaknak would hold up in an environment like Hawaii. My woman has moved to Kona, and the only reason why I am not there now is because I'm about to go commercial fishing for the summer, but when I get done in Alaska, I'm off to Hawaii, and plan in being there for a while, as we are considering property there and using the alaknak as living quarters until something can be built.

 Obviously a 12x12 is too tiny for two, so I would just order a 13x27 when I get there and build a platform for it, but my concerns are the long term effects of the equatorial uv rays and such, as I doubt any wind or rain there would be something an alaknak couldn't handle if set up right. It seems more of a tent for harsh weather and winter time hunting than a tropical hideaway, but the price is hard to beat....

What do you guys think about using an 13x27 as a place to live?

[Woodchuck]

I wouldn't hesitate. My 12X20 goes up on labor day when it is still pretty warm and stays til November. You might run a tarp over for a little extra protection. 

[Bean Counter]

UV will tear just about anything up.  Its only a matter of time.  I would plan on keeping a tarp over it and going through them as a disposable item .

[Stein]

You may want to think about an air conditioner for that.  Last summer we camped out for the 4th and it hit 128 inside the tent during the day with all the windows open.  We have a Bighorn, but same material I believe.

[trophyhunt]

Air conditioning and tarps are great ideas and should be your minimum protection.  I would build a wood roof over it and carry the sides down 3/4 to the bottom, shingles and sideing.  If you plan to build, a long term shelter over your tent would be much better.  Good luck fishing and stay safe!!

[Special T]

Very cool. Building in Hawaii is expensive. Might I sugest you rent the video "Garbage Warrior" about Michael Reynolds.  His design is awesome, his politics not so much.

His home designs are cool and think outside of the box and what you do is very condusive to building one.
http://earthship.com/

The Reynolds is WAY too out there for me but i LOVE his home idea. I think that he does nto do a very good job of evaluating the time=$ cost in his designs. That said if you have a seasonal job and the ability to work on it for a month at a time while still making it happen it could really work.  From my understandign the idea mostly works for young people, and Physically Fit retired people.