Material to have with you on a deserted island

[Travis]

So the season premier of Mythbusters asked the question: if you only one material to accompany you onto a deserted tropical island what would it be?

They concluded it should be duct tape. Then to prove it they are taken to a tropical island where they demonstrate how you could survive with nothing but the clothes on your back and a huge pallet of duct tape.

While there Adam builds: a hat, sandals, fresh water carriers, a net to capture wild chickens, some chairs, a chess set and a hammock.

Jaime builds: his own sandals, a spear to fish with, a solar still to capture evaporated water and a surf board.

All out of duct tape.

Then they get together and build a seaworthy canoe and take it out on the ocean for about seven hours.

So they kind of do make a good case for that material but I'm still not sure I wouldn't just want a good hatchet and a knife.

[fishbob]

Duct tape is good, but my vote is: Beer

[Loss Leader]

I'm gonna be the first to say it: Book of Mormon.

[Lowpro]

It was actually a very good episode too. They even built an SOS signal using duct tape.

[Kid Eager]

I immediately though of a sewing machine, but I suspect that's because of another thread...

[BenBurch]

Um, I don't suppose a beautiful blonde castaway would count as material?

[steve s]

Um, I don't suppose a beautiful blonde castaway would count as material?

Only if she's in a magazine.

Steve S

[JoeBentley]

In rough order from most wanted on down:

Materials:
1. Heavy Duty Plastic Sheeting
2. 550 Paracord
3. Duct Tape
4. Brass Wire
5. Mosquito Netting
6. Monofiliment Fishing Line
7. Aluminum Foil

[Pulvinar]

1 sheet of balsa, 50 feet thick, 5000 miles long.

[BravesFan]

Hmmm, in a realistic manner (as it's doubtful one would have a pallet of duct tape). I think I'd rather have a few hundred feet of rope. You can break it down into fishing line, use it to make fishing nets, make a hammock...etc.

[catsmate1]

In rough order from most wanted on down:

Materials:
1. Heavy Duty Plastic Sheeting
2. 550 Paracord
3. Duct Tape
4. Brass Wire
5. Mosquito Netting
6. Monofiliment Fishing Line
7. Aluminum Foil
Most of which can be replaced by suitable used duct tape..........:)

I likes the boat.

[Flo]

So the season premier of Mythbusters asked the question: if you only one material to accompany you onto a deserted tropical island what would it be?

They concluded it should be duct tape. Then to prove it they are taken to a tropical island where they demonstrate how you could survive with nothing but the clothes on your back and a huge pallet of duct tape.

While there Adam builds: a hat, sandals, fresh water carriers, a net to capture wild chickens, some chairs, a chess set and a hammock.

Jaime builds: his own sandals, a spear to fish with, a solar still to capture evaporated water and a surf board.

All out of duct tape.

Then they get together and build a seaworthy canoe and take it out on the ocean for about seven hours.

So they kind of do make a good case for that material but I'm still not sure I wouldn't just want a good hatchet and a knife.


It really makes you wonder how on Earth all those tropical islanders did survive over the centuries without duct tape ! ;)

[Mojo]

A nice big yacht.

[Resume]

Ginger and Marianne.

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

Ray Mears and/or Bear Grills.

[Crossbow]

A nice big yacht.

Thanks!

That is just about what I was thinking of as well.

[RenaissanceBiker]

In rough order from most wanted on down:

Materials:
1. Heavy Duty Plastic Sheeting
2. 550 Paracord
3. Duct Tape
4. Brass Wire
5. Mosquito Netting
6. Monofiliment Fishing Line
7. Aluminum Foil

0. Leatherman Blast Multi-tool

[Halfcentaur]

As long as I could draw or paint. Mechanical pencil with a lifetime supply of lead and a treasure chest of paper.

[EHocking]

Ray Mears and/or Bear Grills.But after you've eaten them, then how do you survive?

[JoeBentley]

Besides Grylls wouldn't be of any use unless he was "surviving" near a nice 4 star hotel with room service.

[sts60]

Tabasco.

[TjW]

A nice big yacht.

Named "The Minnow"?

[kmortis]

Besides Grylls wouldn't be of any use unless he was "surviving" near a nice 4 star hotel with room service.

Well, duh! That's why you want him along. That guy can sniff those places out like no one else can.

[Ladewig]

So they kind of do make a good case for that material but I'm still not sure I wouldn't just want a good hatchet and a knife.

Make sure you bring a whetstone because it is going to take a long time to make a dugout canoe.

You do have the advantage of being able to open cocoanuts, but aside from that, I think the advantage clearly goes to the tape.

[kmortis]

Make sure you bring a whetstone because it is going to take a long time to make a dugout canoe.

You do have the advantage of being able to open cocoanuts, but aside from that, I think the advantage clearly goes to the tape.

Wouldn't a decent rock take care of the cocoanuts for ya just as well as human made tool?

[3point14]

If I were Ray Mears and able to cunningly fashion all sorts of useful items with just an axe, then, er, an axe.

As the only things I can reliably fashion with an axe are wood shavings and injuries, I'm going for the Duct tape.

[NoahFence]

Um, I don't suppose a beautiful blonde castaway would count as material?

Hell, how about their very own smokin' redhead?

[Damien Evans]

I'm gonna be the first to say it: Book of Mormon.

Cheaper than anaesthetic?

[JoeBentley]

I think the question what tools would you want on a desert island is different from what materials you would want.

Tools:
1. A good quality full tang non-folding carbon steel knife.
2. A sturdy metal pot with handle and lid.
3. A ferrocium rod, firesteel, fire piston, or similar reusable all weather fire starter.
4. A compass

Or we can just get really practical and say a fully charged satellite phone, a fully charged GPS device, and a good cigar and a good glass of brandy to enjoy while you wait for rescue.

[BowlOfRed]

While that was a cool episode, I wouldn't know more than 2 things to do with duct tape. I think I might have tried to wrap it around my feet. Maybe I could lash a couple of sticks together with it.

[Spindrift]

While that was a cool episode, I wouldn't know more than 2 things to do with duct tape. I think I might have tried to wrap it around my feet. Maybe I could lash a couple of sticks together with it.

You'd figure it out very quickly with a pallet of duct tape to play with.

Duct tape is like the force, there's a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together. I stole that from someone but I can't remember who.

If I could have only one tool it would be a working satellite phone.

[CORed]

Besides Grylls wouldn't be of any use unless he was "surviving" near a nice 4 star hotel with room service.

Yes, but he would probably kill himself doing something stupid like jumping off a cliff into a river, then you could eat him without having the sin of murder staining your soul (assuming you have one).

[CORed]

You'd figure it out very quickly with a pallet of duct tape to play with.

Duct tape is like the force, there's a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together. I stole that from someone but I can't remember who.

If I could have only one tool it would be a working satellite phone.

About 19 years ago, duct tape saved my raft trip down the Escalante River in Utah. I was running it in a small infatable. I made the mistake of using cheap plastic oars to propel the inflatable. I started with three (one spare) and on the second day I broke the second one. Fortunately, I was able to grab the blade end of the second one that broke. Using duct tape and native material (a nice stout cottonwood stick) I made a very serviceable kayak paddle from the remaining unbroken oar and the blade of one of the broken ones and was able to complete the trip (and made faster progress as I was paddling with the current rather than rowing against it).

[alfaniner]

It was actually a very good episode too. They even built an SOS signal using duct tape.

Except I saw where Adam ran over it, making it read "SOL", and thus totally useless. :)

[kmortis]

Except I saw where Adam ran over it, making it read "SOL", and thus totally useless. :)

Considering their five hour ocean voyage landed them back on the same island they started, I find it rather prophetic.

[GlennB]

So they kind of do make a good case for that material but I'm still not sure I wouldn't just want a good hatchet and a knife.

If it came down to one single tool, a pruning saw might be my choice. For firewood, cutting wood for shelter, etc.

[stilicho]

....

They concluded it should be duct tape. Then to prove it they are taken to a tropical island where they demonstrate how you could survive with nothing but the clothes on your back and a huge pallet of duct tape.

....

It's the handyman's secret weapon!

(Source : http://www.amazon.ca/How-To-Do-Everything-Should/dp/0385667744 )

[Ladewig]

They concluded it should be duct tape. Then to prove it they are taken to a tropical island where they demonstrate how you could survive with nothing but the clothes on your back and a huge pallet of duct tape.

While there Adam builds: a hat, sandals, fresh water carriers, a net to capture wild chickens, some chairs, a chess set and a hammock.

Jaime builds: his own sandals, a spear to fish with, a solar still to capture evaporated water and a surf board.


Wait. You want us to believe that there was an episode of Mythbusters in which there wasn't an explosion? Bosh and piffle, my good man. Bosh and piffle.

So did the guys try to make a giant parabolic dish which they covered with silver duct tape in an effort to make a solar collector? Fire is almost as good as explosions.

[kmortis]

Wait. You want us to believe that there was an episode of Mythbusters in which there wasn't an explosion? Bosh and piffle, my good man. Bosh and piffle.

So did the guys try to make a giant parabolic dish which they covered with silver duct tape in an effort to make a solar collector? Fire is almost as good as explosions.

They have been on a long time. I highly doubt this was the first explosion free episode. I'm at a loss to come up with another one, though.