Brewarria to Bourke by boat

Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013 at 20:05
ThreadID: 103664 Views:2104 Replies:4 FollowUps:8
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Hi All
New to the forum game. I'm planning to take my tinnie and 15 hp boat from Brewarria to Bourke to the head of the Darling with 2 best mates. Has anyone recently completed this trip or similar? What is the river like at the moment? What sort of fuel consumption can I expect? Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.
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Reply By: fisherPete - Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013 at 20:30

Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013 at 20:30
2st or 4st.Make sure you have a back up vehicle with fuel , food etc and of course 2 way radios. Don't forget the river does about 3ks for one the crows flies. fuel consumption depends on motor type, hull type and weight carried. The flatter the bottom the more ecomonic. Might be worth asking this question on some fishing forums as well. Local fisheries officers would have a good idea of the river.
You can check river heights on either BOM or the NSW water info web site.
Cheers pete
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Follow Up By: Captain H - Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013 at 20:39

Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013 at 20:39
Some great ideas. We have the back up car. I have calculated the trip to be about 250km by river and100km by road so good advice there at 3 to 1 for distance. I am hoping to visit local area and seek advice and permission to stop on the banks overnight. Good suggestions about checking with fishing forum. Thanks for all the help
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Follow Up By: fisherPete - Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013 at 21:02

Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013 at 21:02
If the support vehicle can meet you most nights then fuel does not become such a big problem. But you would want a least two full 25l tanks in the boat ea morning. !5hp strokes burn about 6 to 8l and hour on full throttle. I would work this out before hand. Be very carefull of upriver facing snags, very dangerous but 90% face down river.So you will need another two fuel tanks in the support vehicle or jerries, but then you have to transfer fuel. Great adventure by the way. Post this question on Tacklebox fishing forum as this will be right up my mate greenfisha alley. he knows a lot of the river.
Good luck Pete
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Follow Up By: Captain H - Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013 at 21:20

Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013 at 21:20
Pete
I hoping to determine how often the support vehicle will be able to meet us with local visit. Thanks for the tip about snags. I'm really looking forward to the adventure. First of many hopefully. Thanks captain
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Reply By: Member - Scrubby (VIC) - Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013 at 22:28

Wednesday, Aug 07, 2013 at 22:28
G`day mate,
I did a trip a bit similar a few years back, 9 boats,15 people, it was great.

If you are going to tow one boat, use a rope from each back corner of the tow boat with each rope through a length of "stiffish" poly pipe then attached to the second boat.
About 1 or 1.5 meters between boats is enough.
This setup prevents the second boat running into the back of the tow boat whenever you change speed or direction and it tracks about the same.
Keep the heavier cargo as low as possible in the second boat.

Take it steady and enjoy.

Scrubby.

AnswerID: 516074

Reply By: Member - Ross N (NSW) - Thursday, Aug 08, 2013 at 08:37

Thursday, Aug 08, 2013 at 08:37
The more water in the river the greater the flow.
I would think about reversing the trip so as to go downstream rather than upstream.
Also if the river is low & or falling the banks can be steep in most places & muddy so some form of protection for your boots might be a good idea.
I use a couple of potato bags. They are light & washable
Have a great trip.
Ross
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Follow Up By: Tim - Thursday, Aug 08, 2013 at 08:47

Thursday, Aug 08, 2013 at 08:47
The river does flow from Bre to Bourke...
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Follow Up By: Member - Ross N (NSW) - Thursday, Aug 08, 2013 at 08:58

Thursday, Aug 08, 2013 at 08:58
Sorry seniors moment. I was thinking of Wilcannia
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Friday, Aug 09, 2013 at 08:36

Friday, Aug 09, 2013 at 08:36
Captain,

The ideal footwear for a trip like that is skin diving boots.

They are light, and the mud doesn't stick to them like other footwear. The ankle length ones give the best protection.

We used to use them when repairing fencelines across the Diamantina, and they are heaps better than a heavy, wet leather boot, or sandshoes, that get "sucked" off your feet in deep solt.

Bob

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Can't remember most of it.

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Follow Up By: Captain H - Friday, Aug 09, 2013 at 19:21

Friday, Aug 09, 2013 at 19:21
Great idea, certainly one that I had not thought about. Good one Bob
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Reply By: Tim - Thursday, Aug 08, 2013 at 08:55

Thursday, Aug 08, 2013 at 08:55
It is definitely do-able. As you said, the river has a 3:1 ratio for river:road. The river also flows at a constant 3km or miles and hour, I can't remember which one. Access to the river after Bre is nearly exclusively via private property, emergency access would not be an issue but camping sites would need land owners permission.

The river is a steady 4.23m at the moment and it doesn't stop flowing until 3.9 so water is not an issue at the moment. Mobile coverage at for the first half would be pretty ordinary, the second half should be ok although you may have to come up the bank in line of sight of Mount Oxley.
Tim
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Follow Up By: Captain H - Thursday, Aug 08, 2013 at 10:28

Thursday, Aug 08, 2013 at 10:28
That sounds very positive for the trip. Thank you for the valuable information about water height and flow. I'm really starting to put all the pieces together.Thanks again.
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