Mary Had a Little Off Grid Hot Tub

Mary's Off-Grid Cabin: A Wood Fired Hot Tub Only Accessible By Boat

Thirty kilometres outside Yellowknife, on a cabin property accessible only by boat, Mary Tapsell built a retreat shaped by the realities and rewards of off-grid life. She won the land lottery in 1983, built the cabin in 1988, and from the beginning imagined a hot tub and sauna overlooking the lake. 

For years, the idea stayed in the background. Mary and her family improvised with cedar planks and a makeshift setup so they could still enjoy hot soaks in the wilderness. Then, in 2014, she saw an AlumiTub at a cottage and cabin fair in Edmonton and decided to buy it as a retirement gift to herself.

“The moment I laid eyes on the AlumiTub at the fair, I knew it was meant to be mine. I purchased it as a retirement gift to myself, and then the real challenge began.”

Getting the tub to the cabin took planning, speed, and help from the people around her. It travelled from Sechelt, British Columbia, to Yellowknife, arrived earlier than expected, and set off a rush to build the platform and deck before the final trip to the boat-access property.

From there, the tub still had to cross the water and make its way up the hill to the deck. Mary and her husband plugged the drain, floated the tub along the river, worked around rocky shores, and with help from neighbours rolled it into place overlooking the lake.

“We floated the tub down a river, carefully navigating rocky shores with the help of neighbors. It was a community effort, with everyone pitching in to roll the tub up a steep hill to its final resting place on the deck overlooking the lake.”

A Cherished Part of the Retreat

Once it was in place, the tub became part of everyday cabin life. Mary uses it in summer and winter, for quiet evenings, rainy days, and weekends with friends. Over time, it settled naturally into the life of the property. 

It’s been a journey of love and learning. From cold dips in the heat of summer to steamy soaks amidst winter’s embrace, the hot tub has become a cherished part of our off-grid retreat.

She talks about spa weekends with her girlfriends, floating bowls for facials, careful rinsing outside the tub, and laughing together through the kind of moments that only happen in a place this remote. On one occasion, they were even buzzed by helicopters fighting nearby fires while they sat in the tub and waved.

Favourite Moments on the Water and Under the Sky

Some of Mary’s strongest memories are tied to weather, light, and the feeling of being fully outside. She remembers sitting in the tub beneath the Northern Lights, soaking on a rainy day with an umbrella overhead, and watching a candle flicker inside a hurricane lamp while the wind moved around them. 

“One of my favorite memories is sitting in the tub on a clear night, gazing up at the Northern Lights. It was a magical experience”

Winter Use at an Off-Grid Cabin

At Mary’s cabin, water is pumped from the lake, their only water source. In winter, heating the tub takes time, care, and wood, mainly spruce and birch. She says it takes around four to five hours to reach temperature, and that they stir the water as it heats to keep it even. Double insulation and careful cover use help hold the warmth once the tub is hot.

Maintaining the hot tub during winter requires some extra effort, but it’s worth it for the cozy experience.

She also found a routine that helps the tub stay warm overnight. By loading it with wood, closing the lid almost completely for a slow burn, and leaving coals to carry through to morning, the heat holds well, especially with insulation underneath. 

Keeping It Clean, Simply

Mary's maintenance routine is shaped by the realities of off-grid living and a commitment to earth-friendly hot tub care. She cleans the tub regularly with water and a sponge, skims debris with a strainer, keeps it covered when not in use, and asks guests to shower before getting in. 

“Keeping the hot tub clean without chemicals is essential for us, especially since we live off-grid and want to minimize our environmental impact.

She also mentions occasionally using a small amount of bromine after the last soak of the night, then letting the water sit before using the tub again the next day. She drains and refills it roughly every two weeks to keep the water fresh.

Small Comforts That Make a Difference

Over the years, Mary has added her own practical touches. Benches make the seating more comfortable. Pool noodles around the edge give friends a softer place to rest their heads and shoulders. A wireless speaker adds to the atmosphere. She also talks about listening to owls and migrating geese while soaking, details that feel inseparable from the setting itself.

A Setup That Has Lasted

Mary says there have been very few problems over the years. Aside from needing longer screws for one part of the setup, which was resolved with help from the manufacturer, the tub has been reliable and well used by family and friends. 

When people assume a setup like this would be too difficult, Mary’s answer is direct.

“Honestly, it’s more manageable than you think. Our hot tub was a couple of hundred pounds, which sounds heavy, but with a few people and some simple precautions, like wrapping it in a packing blanket and securing it properly, it was totally doable.”

– Mary

Create Your Own Off-Grid Setup

At Mary’s cabin, the tub became part of the place: used through summer heat and winter cold, shared with friends, and returned to again and again. Whether your retreat is boat-access only, deep in the woods, or simply further from the grid than most, an off-grid setup can be built around the way you want to live outside, in every season. 

If you are ready to create your own off-grid setup, start with the essentials: access, climate, water, and how you want to use the space. From there, you can build something that feels at home in the landscape and good to return to year after year.