Building Alaska

- Season 1

(2012)

Hunting and fishing guide Bob May is building a new cabin on a remote island in southern Alaska. But, before he begins construction, he needs to tear down the old, abandoned cabin. Easier said than done!

The challenges of building in southern Alaska include shoddy lumber, bad weather, and curious bears.

Things are built differently in a state which experiences 100 earthquakes a day. Though the framing is completed and the rough wiring and plumbing get underway, the grind of the 5-month project starts to wear Bob May down.

A sub-contractor fails to show up for weeks pushing Bob further behind schedule. Meanwhile, Bob and his brother Rick contend with some furry troublemakers of the job site that are chewing through hoses, cables, and grocery bags.

Living this far off the grid, you need to be self-sufficient, whether using recycled oil, or installing hydro and wind energy systems. The insulation delays continue as Bob May waits for a delinquent subcontractor.

Bob May gets the cabin completed just before his first paying customers arrive. Furniture and other items are installed at the last moment. He works 16-hour days, goes over budget, but ends up with the cabin of his dreams.