A one-dimensional (zonal direction only), nonrotating model of the tropics is developed to capture the large-scale response of precipitation, divergence, and water vapor mixing ratio to SST anomalies. The model specifies a constant gross moist static stability, and contains both eastward and westward propagating waves. With evaporation-wind feedback (EWF) suppressed, there is a unique steady state which can be calculated analytically under certain assumptions. With EWF activated, the model becomes unstable to small perturbations, and nonlinearly equilibrated waves propagate around the domain. In the time mean, the presence of EWF acts to smooth otherwise abrupt precipitation distributions. Under certain parameter regimes (e.g., different SST structures), the model can exhibit chaotic behavior in which westward and eastward propagating waves (both moist and dry) interact in complex ways. The relevance of these behaviors and processes to the real atmosphere is discussed.