Island Escape: Entry #5: Gregg Onewein

Another Island Escape Contest Entry

Design:  I started sketching skin-on-frame canoes and gradually added outriggers, more storage, shelter, and ended up with a traditional looking Micronesian shunting proa, recapitulating thousands of years of R and D, dictated by the brutal minimalism of the proa. I love that!  

Construction:  Small diameter bamboo is bound into tapering 6-inch bundles that are lashed to a 3-ft x 10-ft “fence” laid flat on the ground. The “fence” made of 4  1x6 planks and a deconstructed pallet (11 1x6 planks and 100 nails).  This forms a vertical anti-leeway device. Larger bamboo and found flotation, containers, foam, etc. are “woven into the matrix.” Fire-bent bamboo forms the frames that form the windward side of the hull.  Half-round split bamboo is then lashed over the frames to try to make a smoother surface.  

Notes keyed to illustration:

1.  Sail equals 1 8x10 foot canvas tarp, with 2 1x5 foot denim panels added top and bottom.  The corners are reinforced with milk jug plastic.  All lines are jute sennit (look it up).

2. Large rubber rings are cut from an old tire.

3. Ama, likewise, has rubber bands cut from the top of a rubber boot.  Ama is  tapered and 1-foot diameter in the middle. It is made from 4 bundles of bamboo lashed with marlin and braided jute sennit.   

   D. 4 x 6 x 3 foot high thatched shelter, made of bamboo and coconut fronds.  

   E. Small lightweight storage hammocks made of leftover netting.  

   F.  Also illustrated are a 5 foot steering paddle and an 11 foot bamboo steering oar (yuloh?)

Introduction/Assumptions:

That I found myself washed up on a smallish Southeast Asian island 30 days ago,according to my tally stick.  I have subsequently built a camp, found a fresh water source, and made a few survival tools. 

(see below).  I have also kept a signal fire/sludge going for 3 weeks with no results.  Therefore, escape in the form of a boat seems to be my only option.  Numerous contrails suggest that there might be an airport to the south and west.  Prevailing winds from the east and currents from the north are also encouraging.

I have made an exhaustive list of my resources (that has been previously published).

Notes on improvised tools follow, roughly in order of importance.

1. Neck lanyards for multi-tool, lighters, and wallet made from a leather belt.  

2. Woven coconut frond hat

3. Survival spear with bamboo shaft and metal fragment, shaped, filed and lashed on.

4. A hand line made from deconstructing most of a 6 x12 foot seine net, wrapped around a bottle.

5. Hooks made from carefully filed bent nails.

6. Dip net made from above-mentioned seine net, affixed to a forked branch for catching small fish and birds.

7. Bamboo drying rack for fish and seaweed.

8. Hardwood chisels and mallet for opening coconuts.

9. Makeshift needles of bone or metal fragments.

Additional tools that I might need for my escape vehicle are: bow drill, drogue, sandbox for onboard signaling fire and sleeping mat.  

This looks to be a raw foods "cruise" with dried seaweed, fish and crustaceans, fruit (fresh and dried) with plenty of water and coconuts.  

Included is a photo of a quick and dirty proof-of-concept model. •SCA•