Cajo accessories: what you need vs. what's optional

The hull, seat, rudder, and foot braces come in the box. Decisions to make: drive (Traverse vs. fin), Quad Rails sizing, second seat, electronics, and a few use-case adds for offshore or small water.

Buying a kayak comes with a long list of accessories you could add. The truth is most of them are optional and a few are essential. Here's what comes in the box, what you should think about adding, and a sample "if you fish like this" starter list.

What's in the box

When you buy a Cajo rigid hull (Outpost 100, Outpost 128, Terra 116), the boat ships with:

The hull (HDPE, with gear tracks, scuppers, drain plug, electronics pod on the 128)
Horizon Pro Seat — Cajo's standard high-back seat with recline and fore/aft adjustment
Traverse Fatback Rudder System — rudder blade, U-connector, steering cables, pull-up cord, Power-Pole bracket
Slide Lock foot braces — also the rudder foot pedals
Steering handle — hand input for the rudder
Drain plug and basic hardware

When you buy a Highlander AirTrek inflatable, you get the hull, the pump, and a carry bag — the seat (Horizon Elevated Seat Perch), rudder kit, and drive are typically ordered alongside it.

The big decision — the drive

The biggest single accessory choice you'll make is your drive. Three options:

Option 1 — Traverse Pedal Drive (Cajo's own)

$899.99 bundled with a hull (automatic $300 discount applies wherever you buy)
$1,199.99 standalone
10:1 gearbox, instant reverse, indexer-locked prop
Bolts into every Cajo hull
5-year warranty

Best if you want a real reverse, longer cruise speeds, and a sealed drive with no external moving fins.

Option 2 — Kick-up fin drive via the Fin Drive Adapter

Bring your own drive: Hobie MD 180, Pelican fin drive, Vibe Hero 2.0-era, Lightning Kayaks
Fin Drive Adapter is a separate purchase (rigid models use the universal SKU; Highlanders use the Highlander Fin Drive Mount Kit)
Kick-up fins handle shallow / rocky water gracefully
No reverse (or limited)

Best if you already own a Hobie or fin drive, or if you fish very shallow water where kick-up is the main feature.

Option 3 — Paddle only

Cheapest setup
Most workout
Works on every hull

Joshua's actual recommendation for most owners: start with the Traverse Drive bundled with the hull — the $300 bundle discount makes it the best per-dollar accessory in the lineup, and reverse is something owners come to depend on quickly.

The second decision — Quad Rails

Quad Rails are Cajo's modular accessory rail system. They mount onto the boat's gear tracks and let you place rod holders, electronics mounts, RAM arms, cameras, and YakAttack accessories anywhere on the rail rather than only at fixed points on the track.

Four lengths available. The math:

Rail length + 1" each end for the base = total mounting span
26" rail = 28" usable span
32" rail = 34" usable span
And so on for the longer lengths

Common captain's bridge widths (across the cockpit in front of the seat) are 26" and 32". For the Highlander 100, only the 44" length is supported (via flush-mount inserts).

Compatible accessory brands: YakAttack, YakGear, Railblaza, Scotty, RAM. Most other gear-track accessories work too.

See the full Quad Rails article for picking lengths.

The third decision — extra seating

Horizon Elevated Seat Perch

The "stand-and-fish-from-the-edge" higher seat option. Sits on top of the deck rather than down in the cockpit. Useful for sight fishing, casting visibility, and when you want to be higher than the standard Pro Seat allows.

Confirmed fit on all Cajo models, plus Vibe Yellowfin Tandem (with the Hero 2.0 seat, 2019+) and the Highlander AirTrek.

Treklite Kayak Seat

Cajo's lightweight second seat. Works on all Cajo models and on inflatable SUPs with D-rings or loop straps. Useful as a second seat on tandem days, or as a lighter alternative for travel.

Currently a high-demand item — back-in-stock timing varies. See Treklite seat back in stock.

Electronics

If you're running a fish finder, trolling motor, GPS, or any electronics:

Outpost 128 — built for it

The 128 has a built-in electronics pod (4.3" W × 13.4" L × 6.75" H). Built-in thru-hull wiring at the top of the pod, no-drill transducer mount at the bottom, fits an Amped Outdoors 30Ah LiFePO4 (tall version) on its side.

If you run an electronics-heavy rig, the 128 is the easiest hull to wire cleanly.

Outpost 100 / Terra 116 / Highlanders

No built-in pod. Run a sealed waterproof battery box behind or under the seat. Cables route along the gear tracks or under the gunwales. Outpost 100 is pre-wired for foot steering — see Outpost 100 pre-wired for foot steering for the existing wire run.

Trolling motor (if you want one)

See the full Trolling motor buyer's guide for Cajo owners. Short version: stern Power-Pole pattern fits Newport NK180 Pro, Bixpy Power-Pole base, Garmin Force. Bow Minn-Kota pattern (Terra and 128 only) fits Minn-Kota RTA-17 + motors.

Use-case starter kits

"I fish small water — ponds, slow rivers, light chop"

Outpost 100 + Traverse Drive (bundled)
26" Quad Rails (captain's bridge)
One rod holder, one fish finder
Treklite Seat for a buddy day

"I fish big water and tournaments"

Outpost 128 + Traverse Drive (bundled)
Newport NK180 Pro on the stern Power-Pole
32" Quad Rails (captain's bridge)
Electronics pod populated with a 30Ah LiFePO4 battery + head unit
Anchor rig

"I fish salt — PNW salmon, Chesapeake, surf launches"

Terra 116 + Traverse Drive (bundled)
Newport NK180 Pro on the stern Power-Pole
32" Quad Rails (captain's bridge)
Religious freshwater rinse routine

"I live in an apartment and want to fish travel-light"

Highlander 100 or 120 + Traverse Drive (bundled)
Highlander Fin Drive Mount Kit if you want a Hobie MD 180 instead
Horizon Elevated Seat Perch
44" Quad Rails (100 only) or any length (120)

"I fish with a partner"

Highlander 140T tandem
Two Horizon Elevated Seat Perches OR one perch + Treklite for the second angler
Two paddles
Drive (confirm fitment at order — likely yes on the Traverse and the Highlander Fin Drive Mount Kit)

Honest "you probably don't need" list

A few things people ask about that most owners don't need at purchase:

Custom mounts beyond Quad Rails — the rail system covers 90% of mounting needs
A trolling motor on day one — pedal first; add a motor in season two if you want it
A second drive — they don't fail often; carry the Spare Parts Kit instead ($100, see What's in the Cajo Spare Parts Kit)
Aftermarket steering modifications — the Fatback rudder works as designed; modifications void the warranty on the affected system