back load on truck very cheap

hook it up on the towball which is at the back of the car connect the tail lights into the car and attach the chain to the ring on the tow ball. jump in the car drive forward and your towing. lol hope this helps

have you thought about the train

Thanks Faulkners, I thought that would be more expensive but will look into that option.

take 2 spare tyers and 2 spare hub/ bearing kits with you as they are the first things to go wrong on a long trip

yeah agree, tow it but do both bearings, plus take at least one spare hub/bearing kit with a spare tyre. Tie it down well and you're off. I tried chasing truck companies to truck my boat from Perth to Exmouth and it was more trouble than it was worth, ended up towing it myself.

As for fishing along the way, Whyalla and Arno are a bit spot specific, ie you can't just go and drop and catch snapper. There's plenty of in close reef around Arno where pan sized snapper are easy to catch but big ones are a fair way out on specific wrecks. Best bet would be a charter from there. Otherwise stop in Ceduna, good snapper fishing in the shipping channel, great whiting/squid/crab fishing in the bay and you don't need to detour like you will for Arno/Whyalla.
When are you leaving?

If the tyres have small cracks in them or the rubbers is hardened get new ones and carry 2 spares. Check the trailer for weld cracks or rust holes.

Strap the boat to the trailer with a 2" ratchet tie down strap across the back. Get another ratchet strap 1" or bigger and pull the outboard leg hard down against a block of wood.

Good luck.....you will be fine.

 Mick

There is less of a detour to Whyalla, than Arno Bay. When you get to Iron Knob only 50 k's to Whyalla, then 90 k's back up to Pt Augusta. At Whyalla try Marek's Reef or Pt Lowly (big YTK also) Vist North's Super Deli for tackle and info (used to be on Norrie Avenue, don't know if same spot still??) Did same journey in reverse 5 months ago, safe travelling and enjoy Melbourne, plenty of good places to go fishing down that way. Mallacoota, Portland, Pt Fairy, Westernport.

you should change bearings if you have any doubt in them and put bearing grease on them and make sure you have 2 spare tyres

Saw a show a while back on SBS of blokes getting in to big YTKs at night b, the hot water outlets of the power station,might be worth a try

don't be tempted to use your boat as a trailer.....

Last year went to melbourne to buy a boat and I did what everyone above is saying

Spare tyre ,tools bearings, and do not put extra stuff in the boat as temtped as you will be to do so.

Take a 44 drum aand full it with fuel if you have the room as fuel gets around the $2.15 across the SA border

yeah i towed my boat over when i moved here a number of years ago, had bearings changed and packed etc, just took my time, no rush, check the heat in the bearings each stop etc, no issues very smooth drive over, good luck

Take the canopy right off and store it up under the bow.They cop a fair hammering from the wind wave from roadtrain heading in the opposite direction

I agree with c/vite. remove the canopy & also dont get sucked in like a few people do & load up the boat like its a trailor. The boat trailor is only rated at wot it is for a very good reason & any incident involving it & excess loads will void your insurance. Ya see it so many times, fridges dog kennels  etc. The train is a good option but only if ya travel with it, i think normal freight charges apply if ya dont. Woteva you decide, take care & travel safe.  Rob

Thanks every one for the great info and kind thoughts.

Lucky Tim......... Am Leaving around the 22nd.

 If any one wants a free roadtrip happy to take a passenger.

Fix some cardboard in front of the windscreen as well saves from stone chips from passing trucks

G'day new to the forum but thought I would through my 2 bob in. I just went to Clare SA from WA to pick up a 5.6m bruce harris cat I bought over there. I did the majority of drivin myself and by the fifth day I was pretty much spent. Definately would be a good idea to grab a mate if you can.

I did run into the same issues as you though trucks were too expensive and the train site said they did not carry boats (I didn't research much further into this).

My advice from my experience would be make sure you are carrying a good set of tools with at least the basics but preferably a decent set that will get you out of most situations (my best mate is a mechanic comes in handy :) )

The other thing is Im not sure how mechanically minded you are but I have run into a few people that have a spare set of bearings and don't know how to put them in, I would definatley change them yourself before departing.

And last but not least get a set of bearing buddies and pump them full after going in the water at the ramp, your hot bearings will suck all the salt water in!!

Best of luck it's a great trip (if your prepared!!)

I got back from driving the Nullarbor a week ago and diesel was $1.30 in Norseman, Nundroo and Ceduna, $1.55 at Eucla and Mundrabilla, $1.65 at Border Village and Caiguna. If you can avoid stopping between Norseman and Eucla you'll save a few bucks.