Clark Cod Catcher 410 with Suzuki 40HP 4-Stroke

by Peter Jung •

I few years ago I joined Simon Ryan from Boats and More in Shepparton at Lake Mulwala to test a Clark 410 Kakadu SC with a 40hp Suzuki 2-stroke outboard. The Kakadu series was already an established part of the Clark range, however, this boat had been specifically adapted to suit the requirements of the local fisheries, through the feedback and requests of their customers. At the time it was just an idea in development, but not long after that Boats and More changed the name of the range to Cod Catcher to better reflect those adaptations.

Earlier this year, before lockdowns and restrictions came into play, I joined Simon again to revisit the Clark 410 Cod Catcher and see why it has become one of the most popular boats they sell in their Shepparton and Echuca dealerships. 

What has changed?

Looking back at the YouTube video I did for the boat test, the biggest thing that has changed is my ability in front of a camera! For all the information on the day, you can scan the QR Code on this page to check it out.

The main difference from the original test is that it was done with a Suzuki 40hp 2-stroke outboard on the package. New emissions laws are now in effect, which means this test was done with a DF40 Suzuki 4-stroke outboard. This makes a big difference in the overall feel of the package, which I will explain further as I go through the test. It also changes the price point of the package from entry-level boat we first looked at, to a fit-for-purpose set up, with the addition of electronics and comforts.

The Clark Cod Catcher 410 Special Edition includes a maximum horsepower motor, quality sounder, 55lb electric motor and a custom wrap. It really looks the part.

Launching and retrieving was a simple and easy process. We drove it on and off the trailer during the test.

The 40hp Suzuki DF40 4-stroke powered the Cod Catcher onto the plane effortlessly.

The package got along at a very respectable 45km/h at WOT.

The front casting deck has enough space for two anglers to fish from, with plenty of under floor storage below it.

An electric motor is part of the Special Edition package. In this case a 55lb thrust Minn Kota.

Comfy seats and roomy cockpit add to the experience of driving the Clark 410 Cod Catcher.

There is simple storage for all the things you need to keep within arm’s reach.

The console of the Cod Catcher has plenty of room to mount electronics and gauges. The tested Special Edition included a Garmin Striker 7.

The front casting deck has enough space for two anglers to fish from, with plenty of under floor storage below it.

The Clark 410 Cod Catcher’s maximum horsepower is 40hp. The Suzuki on the test boat provided plenty of power with good performance.

The Cod Catcher does slide a little bit when you are cornering at speed. A relatively flat hull design is the reason. The author found the extra weight of the 4-stroke engine improved the handling significantly from the first time we tested it.

The Dunbier 4.3 Sports trailer is a perfect match for the package and it can be towed by most vehicles.

Package as tested

We tested the Cod Catcher on the Goulburn River in the Nagambie Lakes precinct – the exact type of location this boat has been developed for! We wanted to celebrate the success of the model, so we tested the Special Edition that Boats and More put together. This package consists of a maximum horsepower motor (in this case the 40hp Suzuki, but Boats and More can also do Mercury or E-Tec powered packages depending on which store you go to), an electronics package of a medium price point sounder and a 55lb electric motor. But the real appeal is the wrap on the boat of a Murray cod and a golden perch. It looked fantastic and was a great edition to the package. 

The Special Edition as tested came in at $29,990, however if you don’t want the wrap and wish to choose your own accessories, a base boat with the 40hp motor starts between $24,000-$25,000.

The essentials

Packages like this need to tick a few key boxes. 

First of all, it needs to be easily towed by the family vehicle (including small to medium ones) and should be able to be launched and retrieved comfortably by one person. The Dunbier 4.3 Sports trailer is well suited to the package and ensures most small to medium cars can tow it comfortably. Launching and retrieving is also very simple. You can drive on drive off, or add a rope and winch on and off. One person, no problems.

Secondly, the ride and handling are very important. Many boats of this size are a first boat purchase for many people and therefore it has to be easy to drive. I think this was the biggest improvement I noticed from the initial test 5 years ago. I put this down to the additional weight of the 4-stroke motor. During the original test, when you cornered at speed it had a tendency to slide a little. Although this hasn’t completely disappeared, there is a significant improvement. In fact, the overall handling and ride was excellent. 

Having the maximum 40hp motor on the package ensured we got up on the plane quickly, with a respectable 45km/h at WOT. The best fuel economy came at 4500rpm, which got a speed of 30km/h using 7L of fuel per hour. So it had good ride and handling as well as good economy.

Last, but not least, is stability at rest. For a fishing vessel, it’s important to be able to cast lures and walk around the boat safely while at rest. The 410 Cod Catcher sits nicely on the water and provides a solid platform to fish from. It was so stable we even used it as a camera boat for another boat test we did on the day.

There’s no doubt that the Cod Catcher ticked all the essential boxes, plus some more. It had good underfloor storage, very comfortable seats, and plenty of room to fish with two anglers casting lures. It has transcended from the original entry-level combination to a fit-for-purpose package suited to anglers that enjoy fishing estuaries, lakes and rivers.

Check it our for yourself

Boats and More have two dealerships, in Shepparton and in Echuca, Victoria. They stock a large range of boats and quite a few from the Clark range. You can check out their website www.boatsandmore.com.au to find out more or see the full range of Clark boats at www.clarkboats.com.au.

Overall length 4.10m
Beam 1.95m
Min. hp 30hp
Weight (hull only) 255kg
Max. hp 40hp
Bottom sheet 2.0mm
Side sheet 2.5mm
Max persons 4 people

RPM Speed Litres/hour
Idle (800) 3.0 0.5
1000 4.2 0.6
2000 8.0 1.8
3000 10.0 4.2
4000 17.0 7.0
5000 36.0 10.4
WOT (6000) 45.0 14.0
Best performance
4500  30.0  7.0