Have you ever actually started a fire with a bow drill?
I have, after putting together the neccessary parts (au naturel) except for the string (the leather lace from my deck shoes worked just fine) during a 15 minute walk through a local park. I find it hard to believe that cordage couldn't be improvised from SOME source... did I/you/whoever leave the boat naked? By the way, for what it's worth, I wouldn't consider myself an "expert" at any given survival skill, just someone who goes to the time and effort to try them out, and practice the tougher ones until I'm comfortable with my skill level. Oh... and while we're at it, I know of two people who made fire on their first attempt with a bow drill (I took a few turns before I got there).

Troy

P.S. Hey Frenchy, pardon my mis-spellings (in parentheses) if I got that wrong.