How to de-salinate seawater when stranded on a deserted island

Step 3 Create the cachement "system"

1)After creating a suitably deep divot in the mound at the center of the trnch lay the waterproof windbreaker in the mound to create a deep bowl.
2)the top of the "bowl" must be considerably lower than the top of the berm (1/2 the height is probably a good average - it's all eyeballed at this point).
3) Stretch the white waterproof sail over the trench and bowl.
4) Carefully place heavy rocks on the perimeter of the sail to hold it down.
5) Cover the remaining perimeter with sand, effectively sealing the edges of the sail to the beach.
6) Place a stone in the center of the sail, directly above the "bowl".

The stone must be big and heavy enough to pull the sail down to a point above the bowl.

Comments

[darcitananda]

I know I'm a little late here, but my fish tank evaporates about a 1/2-to 1 gallon of water per day and that only has an exposed area of about 3 square feet, maybe even less. According to my admittedly non-scientific anecdotal evidence, it could be quite a small still needed to produce enough drinking water for a day. Plus, how would all those castaways survive if they needed acres to make a still?

[Benho]

Although this is a sound theory, to provide enough drinking water for even one person would require acres of these little set ups. I too saw voyage of the mimi and was eager to try this out. I have also spent a month on a deserted island ;)

[CementTruck]

If I may ask, What island were you "stranded" on, and was it voluntary? I Googled "Voyage of the Mimi" as I have never heard of it. It looks like it was an educational show produced in the mid eighties, and Making Dew / Expedition 10: Water, Water Everywhere was the episode where this subject was broached. I probably would have enjoyed the show.

[Full Frontal Graphic]

Ben Affleck was on that show... it's what made me a fan.

[Benho]

I spent a month living off of Coconuts and Wild Pigs on Cocos Island, now I just stay with the Rangers at the Ranger station when I go and eat Beans and Rice. I've also been shipwrecked in a remote part of Honduras.