You’re Stranded on a Desert Island (not dessert)

[Paul]

Bow drills are not that hard to make, but they do take a good bit of effort to get an ember, especially if you're somewhere humid.


What good is a water purifier without a pot to put the purified water in?

Also, you can make a filter with soil and charcoal, if you can craft something to hold it so the water can pass through. Or just dig a well. If you can find a water source (creek or pond), you can dig a hole near them, and when you hit water it will be safe to drink.

I started with Bushcraft 101 and SAS Survival Handbook. There's an app from the US military for Rangers that's free, but I chose a book since app and electricity won't be available when needed.

I also follow quite a few survival channels which show building an entire homestead from scratch. I've not found a single source, but by piecing together many techniques, I know the basics of a building good shelter, fire creation, sourcing water and food all the way up to building a water wheel for lumber and grain processing.

I'm no expert, but I believe I am reasonably capable of getting shelter, fire, food, and water as I at least know the concepts and techniques.

You can use heated rocks and hollowed out bamboo or log to boil the water. I've even seen it boiled in a plastic bottle. Most food won't require a pot as you won't have access to grains etc needing it, so a stick and fire will suffice.

A temp shelter until you get more is easy enough to build if you know what you are looking for in nature such as a cliff, fallen trees, and leaves.

Fishing pole would be a waste of your time. Learn to build traps and let the fish swim right into them. That frees you up for building the shelter and processing water\food.

Most of this is doable with the knife and saw. Honestly would rather a good axe than the saw, but wasn't on the list.

Thank you.
We’re in great hands on this board. I’m ready.

 

[Booker]

You can use heated rocks and hollowed out bamboo or log to boil the water. I've even seen it boiled in a plastic bottle. Most food won't require a pot as you won't have access to grains etc needing it, so a stick and fire will suffice.

A temp shelter until you get more is easy enough to build if you know what you are looking for in nature such as a cliff, fallen trees, and leaves.

Fishing pole would be a waste of your time. Learn to build traps and let the fish swim right into them. That frees you up for building the shelter and processing water\food.

Regarding shelter, I think the tent would be a good luxury item to start with until you can get a more permanent shelter built, especially if you're somewhere wet and buggy -- you're not going to be able to sleep if you're getting rained on or eaten alive by bugs. And then later on you can repurpose the materials -- the bug netting, for example, could be used for catching small fish or minnows for bait.

 

[Booker]

Most of this is doable with the knife and saw. Honestly would rather a good axe than the saw, but wasn't on the list.

Yeah, regarding the knife, it would need to be decent sized, like a hunting or survival knife, or small machete, or otherwise I'd go with the saw. Something like a pocket knife wouldn't do a lot of good.

 

[Tapxe]

Regarding shelter, I think the tent would be a good luxury item to start with until you can get a more permanent shelter built, especially if you're somewhere wet and buggy -- you're not going to be able to sleep if you're getting rained on or eaten alive by bugs. And then later on you can repurpose the materials -- the bug netting, for example, could be used for catching small fish or minnows for bait.

Can't really argue that. I'd just rather have the first aid kit over the tent as a luxury assuming it's a regulation 7 level kit. My concern is that the material of the tent won't survive long in such a harsh environment. The list of items in the kit however are packaged for long term storage and provide lifesaving potential from simple things which will happen, like cuts and scrapes, to comfort like being able to clip your nails.

• Cotton Wool Roll 50g x 2
• 100ml Antiseptic Solution x 1
• Gauze Swabs 75mm*75mm 5’s x 1
• Sterile Gauzes 5’s, x 2
• Metal Forceps x 1
• Bandage Scissors x 1
• Safety Pins 12’s x 1
• Non-Woven Triangular Bandages x 4
• Conforming Bandages 75mm x 4
• Conforming Bandages 100mm x4
• Plaster Roll 25mm*3m x 1
• Non Allergenic Tape 25mm*3m x 1
• Plasters Assorted x 10
• First Aid Dressing No.3 x 4
• First Aid Dressing No.5 x 4
• Latex Gloves x 4
• CPR Mouth Pieces x 2
• Plastic Interlocking Splints x 2
• BurnShield 10cm*10cm x 1
• 1 x SPILLAGE KIT: 2 x 6g Absorbent/Disinfecting Granules, 1 x Pack of Paper Towels, 4 x Nitrile Gloves, 1 x Disposal Bag.
• Furthermore Includes First Aid Metal Wall Mounted Box (45cm*35cm*12cm) and First Aid Guide & Checklists

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Wait…was she an option?
I’ll swap her for the iPod

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Regarding shelter, I think the tent would be a good luxury item to start with until you can get a more permanent shelter built, especially if you're somewhere wet and buggy -- you're not going to be able to sleep if you're getting rained on or eaten alive by bugs. And then later on you can repurpose the materials -- the bug netting, for example, could be used for catching small fish or minnows for bait.

That’s why I went with tarp - shelter at night, water collection in the day

 

[Tapxe]

Wait…was she an option?
I’ll swap her for the iPod

That'd be cheating since she obviously has the needed skills.

Although, I think you had something else in mind.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

That'd be cheating since she obviously has the needed skills.

Although, I think you had something else in mind.

Yes it was a snuggle - she already has a digital device

 

[Yatman]

as specifics weren't given, assumptions were made...

island similar to cast away (tom hanks) and castaway (oliver reed), not the far side with a single palm tree

weather tropical with periodic rain (tarp collection), exposure limited to sunburn, breezes to keep flying insects at bay

flora/fauna typical of pacific islands, lots of fish, small land animals, tropical plant edibles

primitive shelter = easy (knife)
primitive fire = easy
primitive cordage = hard (rope)

mirror signaling only in daylight and requires aiming skill; day or night, flare means only one thing

make and wear primitive footgear; mind your step, eyes, and hands; don't travel at night

hopefully someone observant passes by

 

[BlackandGoldXLIV]

Can I choose bag of weed four times?

 

[Semper]

I think a lot would depend on circumstances. I mean if it could be a long time the saw is a must. For sure knife, tarp, fishing pole. If the island had animals a gun.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

I think a lot would depend on circumstances. I mean if it could be a long time the saw is a must. For sure knife, tarp, fishing pole. If the island had animals a gun.

Nah it just says gun not gun and unlimited bullets - so just the bullets already in the gun

@Tapxe if rocks are on island, isn’t knife/ax fairly easy to fashion?

 

[Tapxe]

Nah it just says gun not gun and unlimited bullets - so just the bullets already in the gun

@Tapxe if rocks are on island, isn’t knife/ax fairly easy to fashion?

Depends on the rock composition. Shale works, but idk all the variations of rock. It's possible to break them against each other or once you get fire you can take rocks from water and set em in the hot fire. The right ones will explode so stay away or behind a tree.

Bigger problem is how you gonna hold the rock on the stick to make an axe? You'll need to find a small animal, trap it for skin or make some cordage contraption and learn to throw the infinitely variable shaped rocks.

You can sharpen a decent stick on a rock and probably be much more effective at least defensively at first. Plus you can use it for digging roots, knocking down fruits, or separating the husk from the coconuts if available. That's good stuff for fire making and eventually a bed and pillow.

 

[guidomerkinsrules]

Bigger problem is how you gonna hold the rock on the stick to make an axe?

palm fronds