Deserted Island.. (in Off-topic)

Eh, no particular reason for this question, it's just one of those things that appear in your head... but I was wondering if you got stranded on an island, could you live by drinking the ocean salt water? :-\ It wouldn't taste very good, but would it physically possible to keep hydrated by drinking the salt water?

nope, have to distill it, or desalinate it with some other method first

How would you do that on a desert island?

Evaporation / condensation

You are stranded on a deserted island and you think of that?What Pamela Anderson isn't good enough for you ? How about the cast of Bimbos invade my pajamas ?

Pamela's like 50 dude. She has all types of love-cooties and she's more plastic than human. She's totally not attractive and I think if I were on an island with her, I'd just cook her and eat her. e_e

you'd cook plastic and silicon and eat it? :)

Salt water would dehydrate you terribly, all that salt would just make you more thirsty.

Where would you get the water from on an island though? If there wasn't any lakes/streams/ponds/etc. How would you make the water evaporate but still have the water?

Your only hope would be lots and lots of rain. Or a bottle, plastic bag, and a never-ending fire might also work.

Drinking salt water will dehydrate your cells. I just did some Biology, so I could tell you all about it, but all just sum it up and say 'that's bad'.

I'm sure if you have nice, warm rain every couple of hours, you could survive (assuming you also found something to eat).

Unless, of course, this island was Hawaii. Then all you have to worry about is... absolutely nothing.

you could create something in within you could let the water evaporate and have it be collected somewhere else, be inventive!

You'd need to either desalinate the available water or condense humidity from the air down to drinking water. See "Life of Pi". :)

Well if the island is deserted, you might see what the locals left behind ;)

More seriously though, you could get your water from eating vegetation. You'd probably have to eat a fair amount, but if you've no other option, it's the best option you have.

cant you boil the water i thought i read that somewhere

Almighty Wikipedia says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survival_skills#Water

The low-tech method would be to boil/heat water over a fire, then have a tarp or something similar above the water to catch, condense and redirect the steam to a separate vessel. The salt would be left behind. Do the same thing with some fermented fruit juice and you wouldn't mind being on the island at all. :)

Theres usually trees on an island. Dig deep enough and you'll get water... Dunno if it'll be salty or not :P. If you have something thats cold, maybe a sheet of metal, moisture in the air will condense on it at night when it cools.

Due to the salination of the water, ,more water will be lost from your cells due to the effects of osmosis.