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

Step 4 Explanation of the evaporation cachement idea.

As the sun beats down on the beach the water within the berm will try to evaporate. Since the sail is waterproof the water will collect underneath the sail in little droplets. As the droplets get bigger and heavier throughout the day they will gravitate towards the middle where the center weight was placed (heavy stone). This water will dribble down into the bowl made out of a waterproof windbreaker.

The quantity of fresh water that will be collected depends upon the size of the sail, the heat of the sun, and a host of other factors.

If you had a really large sail, you could use the Leatherman and make multiple, smaller, freshwater stills. This might maximize your fresh water collection.

As far as the matches go, save them for the signal fire.

Comments

[ridecruz88]

you could do the same to retract water out of your urine, with a pot instead of the pit and on a much smaller scale..

[Drakekay]

Hmmmm that's a toss up, Desalinated sea water or deurinated pee water!

[Sharkzz]

~S~ G'day all, Speaking of Australia LOL how ya goin cobbers ? Just to let ya know it wasn't me CT, but that is a fact, In shore from the beach you would surely find some greenery, and if you had some bags or waterproof type things to make bag like things tie them around the green stuff with a bit of wieght to bend it down alittle, the condensation will form. I have done it and is very drinkable and with a bit of flavour sometimes depending, If indeed you did have a sail handy, where the boat was no longer usable, or asccessable, what you would do is keep it whole,(much better for shelter later) You would still use the gully and mounds/bowls but in little island sets, so you would have a few under the one roof, do this far enough away from the high tide mark and make a channel to bginf the sea water into your man made little valleys.Next go to where the green stuff is and break of sticks and green leaves, lay these also in the water you have let in, the extra condensation will help as well as help remove any saltiness. The bigger you can keep things like a sail the better !!! 1 -- as I said shelter after collecting some water and can be re used. 2-- makes a much much better signal so aircraft can see it. . I have used the bush/bag method myself while camping with mates on deserted beaches during some surfing safaris along the east coast of Oz, summer and winter, and it works fine, just dont expect barrels full, you can also if you are lucky dig up some pipis/cockles/clams on the waters edge as well as beach worms(great bait) and crabs, Oh yeh, dont forget to block off your channel before tide get too high and lets too much water in.. ALL the best , glad ta meet yas and keep on surviving. It does a person good to get out of the comfort zone and rough it for a bit and live on your inginuity and smarts. Us humans in civilisation today have it tooo easy and we need to keep those bare survival skills alive, AND it also good for us that are slightly how you say overweight, LOL you can't but help but lose it when left to your own devises like that... Bout time more of the younguns left the ipods at home and roughed it up for a spell... ~S~ Regards from Lozza from Australia PS I reckon instructables is a bloody good web site with a ton of great stuff to share. Take care now .......

[shepard1]

Let me first say: We are going to make it!!! I am a Scout leader and survivalist. Your solar still works but, we may have a problem with the amount of fresh water it makes. A little known fact is that if we could go about 75 yards inland from the shore we could dig a well where fresh water will collect. Mother has already done the hard work for us. Side note; I was once asked, if stranded on a deserted island who would I want with me? My answer, My best Eagle Scout; How long do you think we will be stranded?

[CementTruck]

Someone pointed out that a live plant in a garbage bag actually produces more drinkable water than this solar still. By "Mother" do you mean mother nature? I've never known, or experienced the 75 yard rule. I grew up around beaches and dug holes on the beach all the time. I don't think I ever found fresh water, but I'll take your word for it. If you are a woman, and look like Christy Brinkley, I'll stay on the island with you for as long as you want, and even wave the rescuers away. ;) Let me know how your little expedition turns out.

[Bryan Smith]

Cement truck said: "Someone pointed out that a live plant in a garbage bag actually produces more drinkable water than this solar still. " How would one use a live plant and a garbage bag to produce drinkable water?

[CementTruck]

Someone from Australia commented on this post a while back that if you wrap a plastic bag around a shrub and make sure that the bag's opening is shut tight the plant's respiration will cause condensation to form inside the bag and will eventually yield some drinkable water.