“Survivor” Shelter: How would you build?
I’ve watched the “Survivor” TV series on CBS pretty regularly over the years. I enjoy lots of things about seeing how people cope under pressure.
First the environment confronts them and then the subterfuge of the game.
What always surprises me is how poorly prepared most of them are for the environment. I mean, they all know where they’re going to be stranded, so even the traditional ways of coping should be readily researchable.
In the past I’ve watched documentaries about native people who live in similar places. I’ve seen them start from nothing and build a big shelter in only a few hours, using nothing more than what’s at hand in the vicinity.
So…if you were stranded on a tropical island, what kind of shelter would you build and how? What resources would you look for and use? Are palm fronds the answer for roofing or what? Exactly how would you lay a roof to keep your shelter secure and dry?
Please feel free to research this topic. Besides creative thinking from the minds of BTers, it would be interesting to see what has developed in those parts of the world over many generations.
PS: Let’s at least prove that we’re smarter than the folks who are picked to be on “Survivor”.
Edited 2/23/2008 9:43 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Replies
never watched the show.
Do we get to bring gear or only scavenge?
The show has usually started the people with a few selected items; a machete, some five gallon containers for water, a frying pan and big pot to boil water and cook food.
They also give them a supply of non-potable water, at some distance from their camp site, which presumably has to be boiled to be safe.
So let's assume that you'd have those basic items and the clothes you're wearing but nothing more for the first few days.
The main problem is that tropical rains are frequent, heavy and can go on for hours. The clouds build up all day, then the long rains often come a night. Because these are usually high cumulous clouds, the rain water is cold.
Of course this makes dry shelter very important.
Other than that; no fire, unless you make can make it. No food, unless you can find or catch it.
Edited 2/23/2008 9:58 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
depends on what type island.lot of snakes, wild pigs, roaming animals, then off the ground in the trees.low game , low plant life, then rock, cave, underground.then weather etc.but if you was talking survior on the mainland, then concrete igloo..my spelling is not bad, my keyboard is covered with dirt and I cant see the keys.
My wife and I are huge Survivor fans. Caught the last 2-3 episodes of season one and we were hooked. James, the grave digger from last season and this current one said last season,how is it you can come to this game and done nothing to prepare. He said something about going to Barnes and Noble and learn a thing or two about survival.
Anyway, I'd make something large enough for us to sit under, wouldn't have to be tall enough to stand under, make it deep so your well in from the edge when the rain is sideways, and roof it like we do at home, start at the eave and work to the ridge. Leaves on trees, like a maple, shed water to the periphery of the canopy so the feeder roots can get it. Lay the fronds so water cascades down the roof, put them on thick enough so very few leaks. I'd also have something more comfortable than logs to sleep on, even if you laid fronds on logs and say sand on that it would me more comfortable.
I've watched the show from season 1 and have often contemplated the same thing. others shows or movies have come to mind such as swiss family robinson or blue laggon where elaborate sheltors are devised.
"Boston Rob" the construction guy on Survivor from few years back built a great shelter when the tribes were give a crate of tools from Home Depot in on eof the Challenges. Tools make all the difference even with out power. The worst one I think from the same challenge was when the Big guy...(can't remember his name) built the shelter buy spending liek a whole day digging a big pit to build the shelter over top of....then the whole thing filled with water when the had monsoon!
I've thought myself it would be fun to go on the show simply to build the shelter. But the the mind games that are a huge part of survivor would un nerve me. The problem I see is that your not there long enough to build a shelter that's really worth spending the time on. Nonetheless I think most guys on BT or in constrcution would be more diligent in building a structure that would stand up for a month. I don't think it would really need to be much different from the types seen on the show they would just be better built. Personally I think I would start by building something inbetween a couple of trees. right off the bat the trees would lesson some of the rain coming down.
Wife and I are Survivor diehards. Being in this biz, I gotta believe that I could build a hell of a shelter. (Although....isn't one of the "fans" from this season a residential builder?)
I think I would look to incorporate the existing features of the island into the build. Seems some of the isles have had caves of somesort.....or even rock formations. I'd look to build into/onto that.
Or trees. Use the trunks as your corners and tie off of them.
Beware the bikini clad female.
She may be interpreted as offensive.
Yeah, one of the older (?) women. She tried to get them interested in building a decent shelter earlier, but there wasn't a lot of focus, and it stills shows.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
JD,
I've always had similiar thoughts.
First thing I would do is LOOK for EXISTING shelter or possibilities.
But then I'm thinking they probably have them restricted to the beach pretty much for the cameras......................[email protected]
If it were truly about surviving, I'd raid the production people's place on the second day. You know they have decent shelter, food, refrigerators, beds - probably even flush toilets. It would make Lord of the Flies look like a "reality" TV show.....
I'd raid the production people's place on the second day
Ya Beat me to saying it; also, I'd hit the security people as soon as they passed out the machettes!
Maybe it has already been done, but not broadcast???
It would make Lord of the Flies look like a "reality" TV show.....
Now I'd watch that............ even participate.
Doug
Or trees. Use the trunks as your corners and tie off of them.
That's an excellent concept, IMO. Find two strong, well rooted trees, with the right separation, to act as piers and corner posts or maybe even center posts. Their proven strength is exactly what's needed.
Of pivotal importance is finding or making long fibers which can be twisted together to make stout twine. Some native people cut thin strips of green bamboo off the outside of a stalk. Then they make it flexible by crushing it between stones. So, anyhow, let's assume that we find a source of material for making twine, lots of it.
Then it should be fairly easy to build a strong bamboo frame, lashed together with twine, and a roof that's well laid and held in place against high winds.
JD, Have you ever thought about applying to be on Survivor? You seem to have the right kind of temperament and, who knows, it might be great fun. Certainly would be memorable.
I wonder why there aren't more qualified people from the trades on the show? Or even people who are just more resourceful, guys who grow up fishing and hunting. Some of the more successful and memorable "survivors" have had great coping skills, Terry the pilot as an example. He had a big fan base, judging from the "Survivor" web site at the time.
All this leads me to think that they'd like to find another "Boston Rob" type of guy for each season but that they've been coming up empty. Maybe a few BTers should send in an application, see if we can't come up with someone to root for on the show.
I'll bet that CapnMac would be glad to help our entrant learn about the resources and the skills needed to be successful with the physical part of the game.
Hey...it's a million bucks to the winner and a lifetime of recognition in your own community, even if you only avoid getting voted off in the first few episodes. It could add a lot to a person's business life, having that in their background.
Edited 2/26/2008 8:38 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Actually, I have contemplated trying out for the show.....I think it would be a blast (the game). Dunno that I have the temperment to deal with all the "drama" though. I put drama in quotes because I think much of it is contrived.
I think the reason there aren't more folks from the trades and such involved is because "we" don't move in those circles. The majority of those who do try out, and make it, are folks looking to get into the entertainment field. They run from one casting call to the other. They don't care if it's Survivor, or The Apprentice, or any of the other reality shows. Take Tracy, the "commercial and residential builder", of the current season. I've been in the trades some 25 years. I've seen very few women in this line of work.....none of which have looked anything like her. I guarentee she's done either acting or modeling.
Actually though, our own Andybuildz (previously of BT) tried out and made it to the final cut for the season where they seperated the teams by ethnicity.
Back to the original point of shelter though....I think with the right game plan, and good leadership, a more than adequate structure could be completed within the first two days. That would be one of my top priorities, as it seems there is much more opportunity to win food and supplies through challenges in these past few seasons than there were early on in the shows set up. And a well rested team is more likely to accel at those challenges. Getting myself and my team a safe, dry place to sleep would definetly be among the first things to accomplish.
Beware the bikini clad female.
She may be interpreted as offensive.
I think that the "drama" is usually paranoia based on not knowing any of the competitors very well and being under pressure from the environment.
This season we get to see how past experience helps in direct opposition to the newbies approach. The team of veterans is using their experience and seem to be living pretty comfortably, with a good shelter and plenty of food. They're each using a strategy which they've decided, from past experience and lots of contemplation, suits their personality and their aims. As a result, the power struggle is more evident and more honest.
The other team is pretty chaotic still.
Besides not being prepared for the physical environment, I'm also surprised how poorly prepared most "Survivor" contestants seem to be regarding the psychological aspects of the situation.
If you want to befriend someone and gain their trust, how do you do that?
I'd just use my natural curiosity about people, get into one-on-one conversation as soon and as often as possible and ask simple questions which reflect my real interest (where're ya from? did ya grow up there? how many brother/sisters? lots of small talk which reveals the personality). Then I'd listen respectfully and carefully, allowing the other person to feel comfortable about talking openly with me.
I'd try to remember the key elements but mainly I'd make a point of gently and quietly becoming friends with everyone within the first three days...but not so it seemed like a strategy...just my natural interest in getting to know something about everyone's background.
That way if any of them started comparing notes on my behavior they wouldn't find anything suspicious to get worried about. Keeping it real while learning as much as I could and gaining trust.
Do you think that would work?
Definetly. And I think that's what most of the better players probably do, although I don't think we get to see that on the show very much, as it (small talk) doesn't make for good TV.
But getting to know others, and allowing them to get to know you, is probably the best way to form a true bond with folks you might not otherwise associate with. (Outside of such a game enviroment)
A lot harder to vote off someone you feel you know and maybe even like.
Beware the bikini clad female.
She may be interpreted as offensive.
Precisely. A strategy which is just about initiating sincere friendship by being the first to make positive contact, asking basic personal questions and being a good listener.
You may be right about some people doing that. Cerie seems to understand the good listening part quite well.
I'm enjoying her approach this time. She understood that she had one shot to get rid of one person, early on, and she stuck to her guns. Now her group is pretty strong and should last until the merge. I'll bet that she'll return to her very laid back demeanor too.
Cirie is hilarious! when she said the tribe was planning to eliminate the weaker members "which is fine - except that includes me" that cracked me up. She then promptly convinces Ozzy to get on board getting rid of the tribes biggest muscle - Joel!
I can just picture Joel sitting at home watching that, seeing how that all came about, him getting voted off first from that new tribe split when we was 1st picked by Ozzy!
lol View Image View Image
I've become a fan of both Cirie and Ozzy. Ozzy is being very agreeable about voting off people who the others fear or dislike for some reason.
As the person who is the natural leader, Ozzy seems to appreciate how important it is for him to take a back seat so as not to appear controlling or otherwise threatening.
I give both he and Cirie a very good chance to make it to the final four. I'd give Ozzy the edge but he made what could be a crucial error, when he revealed that he had the individual immunity idol to his former alliance members. It'll be interesting to see how that comes back to help or bite him.
BTW, I'm still looking for BT recruits for "Survivor". I believe we have the specific kind of knowledge and experience among us to help "our" Survivor to compete successfully.
Edited 3/10/2008 3:05 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Yeah......how in the world did she do that?
Ozzy picked the teams....Joel was his first choice....now he's gone.
DW and i are flipping out that Chet is still there!
That sumbitch is gonna ride through to the final four!
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Pp, Qq
Myself, watched it part time first season or two, but can't hardly stand it now. Too stupid to build a good shelter or start a fire without a lighter. As others have said, too much "drama". What i do enjoy it the show "man vs. wild". That guy is much closer to what survivor really should be, starts with few tools, carries all his own camera gear, and shows how bad it really sucks to be stranded. Its counterpart "survivorman" is just as bad as survivor. Camera crew is 10' away, and he pulls dumb stunts that would get most of us killed in the actual wild.
I love Survivor. It's not a show about true survival. It is a game , there are some survival elements to it. my favourite is watching the challenges.
The show you mentioned " man vs wild" that guy is AWESOME! I've only come across the show once. they dumped him in the middle of an alligator swamp miles from dry land anywhere. That guy is amazing! showed all kinds of MacGyver tricks to safely find your way out. View Image View Image
Can't stand survivor because it is just a game. My guilty pleasure is the biggest loser, at least in that one, they are doing good by losing weight than just scheming to win money. Has challenges & such so its pretty similar to survivor, only with an actual benefit. Plus the female trainer (Jillian) is nice to look at.Just my opinion.
not every one likes the show. nothing wrong with that View Image View Image
Jillian?
"...it's a MAN, baby!"
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Pp, Qq
I've never watched the show but based
on this thread I'd say
There isn't a lot of shelter building involved.
It's not a big part of the action but NOT having a good shelter puts a hurting on 'em.
One newly formed team built a decent looking shelter in very little time on last week's show. Nice cooperative job. I wish the producers had spent a few more minutes telling that little story.
The daily melodrama is more interesting when there's a bit more background regarding who is doing what jobs around camp.
Mary Anne Busted for Marijuana!
Yes it true. Dear Mary Anne, of Gilligan's Island, was recently popped for a couple of joints.
And at the age of 69!
She was still the hottest girl on that island
DW and i are flipping out that Chet is still there!
That sumbitch is gonna ride through to the final four!
Sad Sack makes another comeback! The guy is disliked and a lousy team mate but he's also zero threat to anyone so...
I know.....but those contestants are ALWAYS the ones I scream about all through the season. LOL
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Pp, Qq
Time for you to send in your application! Sure would make this board hum for quite a while, if you got picked. :-)
stranded on a tropical island, what kind of shelter would you build and how?
Not really narrowly enough defined. There's a lot of variety from 30ºN to 30ºS in climate, islands, natives, etc. On Oahu, I'd hitch a ride some place, probably to a bar near the Pearl gate entrance and wait until I recognized somebody. "Stranding' solved.
Ideally, rattan cane is best, it's light and strong, and easier to fell than coconut trees. Short-term, palm fronds make decent roofing. You tuck them in jsut like a thatched roof, and the layering makesthem rather rain proof. But, cane thatch is better for a longer-lived roof, as is coconut leaf fiber thatch, but that's tool intensive (or man-day intensive).
The available tools make a difference. The polynesians got by with stone tools (especially obsidian) for millenia. Knapping obsidian takes time and effort, and coconut trees are tougher than the one obsidian axe, too. But, it can be done (even I can do it, and I'm clearly a hack with obsidian, and worse with flint)
Hardest part is recognizing which plants make the best fibre for lashing joints (again, short term is different than long).
Now you're gettin' into more of what I'd expect the "Survivor" players to have learned, before the game has begun.
you're gettin' into more of what I'd expect the
BTDT, T-shirt long since went to dryer lint.
Took and taught the course, too.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Oh you'd be voted off right away!
You know too much!"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."
I'd do it exactly like they did it on the original "Survivor" show, Gilligans Island! They didn't want for anything.
Ahhh Mary Ann making those coconut cream pies running around in her cut offs, now that's survival at its best.
Doug
Doug, Clearly you haven't checked out this season's "Survivor" in Micronesia as yet (Thurs. 8 PM, CBS).
There are two young women on this one, Parvati in particular, who not only smolder like volcanoes but dress in bikinis...during all daylight hours.
Edited 2/24/2008 2:35 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Ahhhh....Parvati.
Now there's a reason to survive.
Beware the bikini clad female.
She may be interpreted as offensive.
Clearly you haven't checked out this season's "Survivor"
Your right, I haven't seen the show since the first year. I then realized that their definition of "survival" had nothing to do with survival. Haven't watched it again.
I'm old school, Mary Ann will do just fine! Plus if I wanted the million dollars I could always con it out of Thurston Howard III.
Doug
I haven't seen the show since the first year. I then realized that their definition of "survival" had nothing to do with survival. Haven't watched it again.
Yup, that was one of the failings of the earlier shows for me too, but they've improved that aspect of it over the years, giving the survivors better natural food sources, seafood in particular, to dive and fish for.
I think it finally dawned on the producers that the reason the places they found for filming were beautiful but uninhabited was because there wasn't enough food there to keep a couple of wayward seagulls alive for more than a day.
This season has probably the best diving/fishing food sources we've ever seen on the show.
But still, my question isn't about what would make a better show. Clearly people with serious survival training and skills would be better able to adapt but how interesting would that be to the average viewer, someone with little interest in the survival aspects of the show.
I'm much more interested to see who has some creative solutions to building dry shelter in a tropical environment. CapnMac started us off with some key points. Where can you take it from there?
Edited 2/24/2008 6:03 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
Where can you take it from there?
I cant! I don't watch the show so I have no idea what they have for shelter or how I could improve on it. Like all reality shows, not much reality to them.
I was just having some fun about a show that I find misleading.
I know how I would survive in most settings but that has nothing to do with the show. I'll bow out of this discussion for the serious Survival people.
Doug
I know how I would survive in most settings but that has nothing to do with the show.
Yes, but it does have to do with my question. I'm interested in hearing about any type of shelter which has been or can be built on tropical islands, by native people, survivalists or others.
It's a construction question, which uses the Survivor series as a framework for discussion. If you want to dismiss the show, fine with me. Just reframe the question in your own terms and propose your own answer.
Edited 2/24/2008 6:05 pm by Hudson Valley Carpenter
You say the show has gotten better as a survival show since they cast the show in locations with natural food supplies. True enough, but as far as it really being anything about survival it still fails. No one really wants for anything. No one loses weight like in the first few seasons. Even anorxic Twiggy from the last season seemed to gain wait!
I think the producers realized early on that people were tired of hearing the contestants talking about their weight loss. The show is about drama not food.
YOu mentioned Parvati? Ami is pretty all right for an older gal, not old, just older. I am sure there are a couple other hotties as well.
Someone asked about the rules. Well, one rule not spoken of but just has to be one of them is that if you are a looker you are not allowed to bring any clothing larger than a napkin. If not so good looking the rule does not apply. Again, never seen the rule written or spoken must as the result is clearly SEEN it must be a rule.
if you are a looker you are not allowed to bring any clothing larger than a napkin.
It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the producers tell the better built ladies that bikinis make excellent survival gear. Not that it's necessary.
ALL those shapely women must have a good idea about how such assets are viewed by easily distracted males. Add that to their own desire to be remembered by the TV audience and, viola, a skimpy bikini becomes the uniform of the day.
I suspect that the producers have manipulated many aspects of the game, as it moves along day by day, to keep it more dramatic and interesting to the audience.
I think they were on Gilligan's Island for a little more than 39 days ;) View Image View Image
I think they were on Gilligan's Island for a little more than 39 days ;)
Yea but it was so cushy that it only seamed like a month!
Still about as real as Survivor
Doug
I rememeber the first show where "the builder" built the shelter too close to the water and it got swamped. He got canned that episode.
If it where me I think I'd try hard to get eliminated ASAP and spend the next 30 days in a nice, warm, above ground resort hotel room. Can't beat that shelter.
Runnerguy
you got the real plan...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Here's how you survive these survival shows. have a little "Talk" with everyone in the cast, one at a time, in private. Make it known that you can reach out anytime you want and get to their family back home. Just in case anything happens to you while you are there. Let's say someone votes you off the island, you get thirsty, you get hungry etc. etc. etc.. Know what I mean? Heh?
Everything I learned about winning on survivor I learned from the Sopranos.
Pop, lock, and drop it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChIdFwQwoYM&feature=related
I never got the point of these survivor shows. Seems to me they are entertainment staged as real life---which defeats the intent. These people are always young, beautiful and healthy and if anything serious happens they will be picked up by helicopter and flown to the nearest metropolitan hospital. Am I missing something here??
I liked the first survivor. After that I haven't cared.
Pop, lock, and drop it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChIdFwQwoYM&feature=related
"These people are always young, beautiful and healthy"
As far as the show Survivor goes ( which is the show of topic) that's totally not true. Yes it is true that there are a good share of the "Young and the Restless" type. But there are plenty older people who get on the show and also plenty of the "less Beautiful" so to speak.
Show like the "Bachelor" not that's another story.
Many of the so called less appealing have actually come to be the most appealing of all. Think of a guy like Yau Man. ( recently voted off this season) or guy Guy like Rupert who built the swamped shelter that I mentioned earlier who's name escaped me at the time. That guy looked like a crazy old pirate, but everyone loved that guy.
"if anything serious happens they will be picked up by helicopter and flown to the nearest metropolitan hospital."
I suppose it would be better television to them keep them on the beach and let them die?
No it's not a real test of "survival" the show is a game. either you like it or you don't. I don't think there's any need for you to like the show, but don't try to think of it as a real "Survival" show." I've seen some really excellent true story survival shows on PBS. accept "Survivor" for what it is a difficult game where the winner gets a million bucks. The greater part of "Survivor" is surviving the mind games and trying not to get voted off. View Image View Image
Rupert
View Image
Yau Man
View Image View Image View Image
Yah, imagine the ratings if they actually starved and died?
Or you could be killed by the environment.
Or each other!
Now that's survival!"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."
You know what....never mind the shelter
I want to build some of those challenges! They have a pretty good crew building some of that stuff!
I have never been in the tropics so i might have a hard time, Rain can get you cold plus sunburn would be a problem. I notice they dont have these shows in cold climates, The only thing i learned about staying alive was strip a birch tree for dry firestarter and make a bed of evergreen and stay by the fire.
I have never been in the tropics so i might have a hard time, Rain can get you cold plus sunburn would be a problem
Good thing we did not have FireFest then <g> That venue is just south of the Tropic of Cancer. It was mid-70s that weekend with very clear skies.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
I thought if you were homeless you just sleep under a bridge...so I want to be in Forrests tribe. <g>
My wife and I have watched the show off and on for years, scoffing and marveling at just how unprepared a lot of the contestants are.
The ones who do have a clue are often glommed onto as providers early but voted out by losers later when seen as too strong.
It's really a fascinating game and a great way to waste an hour before bed... if you can stomach the drama.
Growing up in Wisconsin I spent so much time outside--fishing, hunting, building forts... basically learning how to catch and/or kill anything a boy could--I always thought I'd fare well on the show..
my wife however, claims I'd be voted off first because of my, "assertive communication style and personality.."
;-)
"Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing..."
I always thought I'd fare well on the show..
my wife however, claims I'd be voted off first because of my, "assertive communication style and personality.."
I'm pretty sure that I'd do well too but would probably get the early boot for the same reason.
I can't imagine not getting serious about preparation, well in advance of the start of the contest. Trying to put that knowledge to use quietly, leading by example, hasn't always worked in the early days either. However that seems to be the best way to get a shelter built...start gathering materials, then making pieces. When I had the shelter pieces prepared as much as possible, I'd probably recruit one or two likely helpers and put it up quickly without any fanfare.
The main skill that seems to be most significant, as indicated by CapnMac, is making stout string from long fibers.
A bamboo framework needs lashing and the palm frond roof needs to be laid and tied in a manner that uses it's ability to shed water to best advantage.
I probably am one of very few people who actually lived in a native built shelter. This was in 1970.
I was working for a seismic survey company home based out of New Orleans but worked all over the world. We seismic job near small island in the Timor sea area and we contracted the natives to build a "Grass Shack" for me there to put my transmitter in.
I have some old photos around somewhere and will try to dig them up and post them some day. They did a pretty good job, about 12x20 with 8' doors and maybe 14' peak to the roof, covered it with thatched coconut leaves. I was only there about 3 months after it was built but don't remember it leaking. Watched them hew out the timbers with machetes, squaring up the boards with a bare foot holding the board on the ground and chopping it flat on the sides for the door frame with a machete.
We had about 50 locals working on it and also clearing a helo pad. One our guys thought it would be cool to bring out the chain saw and help them out. They had never seen a chain saw so they all quit work to watch the guy working on a huge tree (4' at the base at least). He looked around and saw nobody was working and shut off the saw and took it back to our supply boat. The locals went back to hacking up the tree with their machetes. Takes a long time and a lot of people to hack a 4' hardwood tree into small enough chunks to roll clear of the pad. Fortunately we only had a couple like that.
To say they were primitive is a understatement. They still hunted small deer with unfletched arrows. The arrows were about 5' long. They were fascinated by my electronics and generators but no comprehension of what it did. The head man sent over a couple of the local teenage beauties for me but at the time I had a girl friend in Darwin. Huge language barrier there too.
They spear fished the inside reef by walking in water almost up to their neck and when something was disturbed they stabbed it with their spear. I saw one guy land a 100 pound grouper doing that.
I went out with them in their dougout canoe (damn those things are heavy) it had a outrigger and would hold 4 people easily. I hooked several fish but the sharks would clip it off right behind the head before I could get it in the boat. One time I hooked a "Lion" fish and they cut my line, they made it clear it was bad news. Even the sharks would not touch them.
I damn near died after leaving there from malaria that I caught while I was there and I was taking my primiquine tablets as well. I left there before the job was completed. By when I left they had did about 5% of the job or less because some whiz kid designed the hydrophone array (all nickle plated receivers) in a mile long clear 4" tube filled with kerosene) to record the undersea return vibrations. The area was crawling with sharks, one hit and the kerosene would run out, cable would sink, ship would stop reel in the hydrophone cable, repair, refloat and balance and two days would be shot. Or they would set it too deep and drag it over a uncharted coral reef and tear it to shreds.
Man we had some great drunks in Darwin though. I got stopped for dui by the local pd and the Aussie mates with me just said to tell the I was a yank and no worries. The PD just said to take it easy. Really hard to navigate where everybody drives on the wrong side of the road, especially if you have had a couple of pints first. No I was not speeding, just weaving a little.
Those were the fun days of jetsetting around the world. Started here in AK, covered most of the coast of the state and went on to Italy, Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon, Oman, Dubai, Tanzania, Madagascar, Singapore, Australia and East Timor all in about 4 years.
""Survivor" Shelter: How would you build?"
First, I'd browse the "free" section of craigslist...
When it rains, it snows.
It's all free, the materials and the food are right there on the island.
And it's not like the building techniques are mysterious or difficult to grasp. You can visit any SE Asian country today and see scaffolds on two-three story new construction, made from bamboo, lashed with twine or small braided rope.
That way of building frames is ancient and modern, easy to learn and use.
Someday they'll make a good emoticon for tounge in cheek.
When it rains, it snows.
I understood your t-in-c humor, just using the opportunity to bump the thread, trying to keep the topic alive for a few more hours.
If it was me out there, I'd probably carry a GPS locator and make prior arrangements for an air drop of a few comfort items to my location on the second day. <G>