Cajo glossary: HIN, transom, freeboard, and other marine terms

A working glossary of the marine and kayak terms Cajo uses in spec sheets, product pages, and warranty conversations — defined plainly with one line on why each matters on a Cajo.

The Cajo lineup uses real marine-engineering vocabulary in spec sheets and conversations. If you're new to kayak fishing or new to fishing kayaks in particular, some of the terms read like a foreign language. Here's the glossary, alphabetical, with one line on what each thing actually is and one line on why it matters on a Cajo.

AirTrek

The drop-stitch construction we use on the Highlander inflatable line — a high-pressure single-chamber design that produces a flat, stiff floor and deck.

Why it matters on a Cajo: AirTrek is what makes a real standing platform possible on an inflatable. Inflated to 10–12 psi, the deck flexes far less than older multi-chamber inflatables.

Bevel gear

A pair of conical gears that turn rotational motion 90° — used inside the Traverse Pedal Drive's lower unit to take horizontal crank rotation and turn it into vertical-axis prop rotation.

Why it matters on a Cajo: it's part of why the 10:1 gear ratio works and why the drive is sealed against water.

BOL (Bill of Lading)

The paper a freight driver hands you to sign on delivery. Once you sign it without noting damage, the carrier considers the shipment accepted.

Why it matters on a Cajo: if your kayak shows up on a truck and the crate or hull is damaged, you note the damage on the BOL before you sign. See Freight delivery 101.

Bow

The front of the boat.

Why it matters on a Cajo: bow-mount trolling motors on the Terra 116 and Outpost 128 use a Minn-Kota quick-release bolt pattern (a "Minn-Kota puck"). The Outpost 100 and the Highlander inflatables don't have a bow puck.

Captain's bridge

A Quad Rails configuration where two parallel rails span the cockpit area to mount electronics, rod holders, and accessories in front of the seat.

Why it matters on a Cajo: 26" and 32" are the most common captain's bridge widths. Bases extend 1" past each rail end, so plan your mounting math accordingly.

Drop-stitch

A textile construction where thousands of internal threads hold two layers of fabric a fixed distance apart, allowing high inflation pressures (10+ psi) without ballooning.

Why it matters on a Cajo: it's the underlying technology of the AirTrek inflatables. Without drop-stitch you can't get a flat, rigid deck.

Foot brace / Slide Lock foot brace

Footrests that slide forward and back on tracks to fit different leg lengths, and lock in position. Cajo's Slide Lock pedals are also the rudder input.

Why it matters on a Cajo: the same foot pedals brace you while pedaling the Traverse Drive AND steer the rudder when pressed.

Freeboard

The vertical distance from the waterline to the top of the gunwale. Higher freeboard means less water comes over the side in chop.

Why it matters on a Cajo: the Outpost 128 has the highest freeboard in the rigid line — part of why it's the open-water and big-water choice.

Fin drive

A pedal drive that uses two horizontal fins moving side-to-side like a fish tail (Hobie's MD 180 is the canonical example). Different mechanism than a rotary prop drive.

Why it matters on a Cajo: our Fin Drive Adapter lets you run a Hobie MD 180, Pelican fin drive, Vibe Hero 2.0-era fin drive, or Lightning Kayaks fin drive in a Cajo hull. The Hobie 360 isn't compatible (integrated with the Pro Angler 360).

Gear track

Aluminum extruded rails embedded along the gunwales of the kayak, used to slide accessory mounts and T-bolted hardware along the boat.

Why it matters on a Cajo: Quad Rails install on the gear tracks. Most accessory mounting (RAM, Scotty, YakAttack, Railblaza) routes through this system.

Gunwale

The upper edge of the kayak's hull, where the deck meets the side. (Pronounced "gunnel.")

Why it matters on a Cajo: most rigging — gear tracks, Quad Rails, rod holders — lives at or near the gunwale. Top-loaded landing-gear style carts (Boonedox, Wilderness Freedom Launcher, Sidekick) suspend hull weight from the gunwales, which is why we don't recommend them or cover the resulting damage.

HDPE (high-density polyethylene)

The plastic our rigid hulls are made of. Tough, UV-resistant, and recyclable.

Why it matters on a Cajo: it's what makes our rigid hulls survive being dragged over rocks, bouncing off oyster bars, and a decade of UV exposure. See Cajo hull material.

HIN (Hull Identification Number)

The 12-character serial number that uniquely identifies your specific kayak. Etched into the hull on the starboard side of the stern (right side of the back).

Why it matters on a Cajo: every warranty claim asks for your HIN. It's how we trace your boat to its production batch and dealer. See HIN location.

Indexer

The mechanism on the Traverse Pedal Drive that locks the prop in a fixed (vertical) position when the drive is parked.

Why it matters on a Cajo: a properly indexed prop sits vertical. If yours sits at 45°, that's a defect — file the claims form.

Kick-up fin drive

A fin drive whose fins automatically fold backward when they hit an obstacle, then snap back to position once clear. The Hobie MD 180 is the canonical example.

Why it matters on a Cajo: the Cajo Fin Drive Adapter is built for kick-up fin drives — they're the most common drive setup customers want to run.

LCL (Less than Container Load)

An ocean freight shipping method where your cargo shares a container with other shippers' cargo. Used for international orders to countries where Cajo doesn't have a dealer yet.

Why it matters on a Cajo: the international order flow runs on LCL with a freight forwarder — see the international order step-by-step article.

Liftgate

A hydraulic platform on the back of a freight truck that lowers cargo from truck height to ground level.

Why it matters on a Cajo: most homes don't have a loading dock. If your delivery doesn't include liftgate service, the driver may not be able to get the kayak off the truck without help. Confirm liftgate is included before delivery day.

LTL (Less than Truckload)

Freight shipping where multiple shippers' cargo shares one truck. Standard method for kayaks shipping to a home address.

Why it matters on a Cajo: when your dealer ships a hull to you, it almost always rides LTL. Curbside, liftgate, signing for damage on the BOL — all part of the LTL flow.

Minn-Kota puck / RTA-17 / quick-release bolt pattern

The bolt pattern Minn-Kota uses for their quick-release trolling motor mount system. A small puck bolts to the kayak, the motor's matching mount snaps onto the puck.

Why it matters on a Cajo: the bow of the Terra 116 and Outpost 128 ship with the Minn-Kota quick-release pattern. Drop-in for Minn-Kota motors; not a drop-in for MotorGuide.

Power-Pole / Power-Pole Micro Anchor bolt pattern

The bolt pattern Power-Pole uses for their Micro Anchor and motor base mounts. Three-position layout on Cajo sterns: one center, two flanking.

Why it matters on a Cajo: every Cajo model has the Power-Pole pattern on the stern. The rudder mounts to the center position by default. Newport NK180 Pro, Garmin Force, Bixpy Power-Pole base motor mount, and other Power-Pole-compatible accessories all bolt to this pattern.

Prop / propeller

The rotating blade that pushes the boat forward. On the Traverse Drive, the prop is mounted on the lower unit and driven by the 10:1 gearbox.

Why it matters on a Cajo: replacement props are available by invoice ($29.99 + shipping) — see Spare prop for the Traverse Pedal Drive.

Quad Rails

Cajo's modular accessory rail system — aluminum rails that slide onto the gear tracks and let you mount accessories in a wider, more configurable footprint than the tracks alone allow.

Why it matters on a Cajo: it's our top accessory line. Four lengths, multiple captain's bridge configurations, compatible with most major accessory brands. See the Quad Rails article.

RTA-17

Minn-Kota's quick-release mounting accessory. Bolts to the kayak; the motor's mount snaps onto the RTA-17. Specifically what you're typically buying when you buy a "Minn-Kota puck."

Why it matters on a Cajo: drops in cleanly on the bow Minn-Kota pattern of the Terra 116 and Outpost 128.

Rudder

The blade at the stern that swings left/right to steer the boat. On a Cajo, the rudder is part of the Traverse Fatback Rudder System, controlled by foot pedals and a hand steering handle.

Why it matters on a Cajo: included with every rigid kayak. Available with the Highlander rudder kit on inflatables. Anchors the rudder system anatomy article.

Scupper

A drainage hole that runs from the top of the kayak deck through the hull to the underside, allowing water on deck to drain out.

Why it matters on a Cajo: the Terra 116 is self-bailing because of its scupper geometry. Cajo also recommends bunk-style carts and trailers because PVC bunks have caused scupper damage on top-loaded transport (we've seen it; the YakAttack TowNStow bunkster is our recommendation instead).

Spare Parts Kit

A Cajo-direct purchase containing common replacement small parts for the rigid hulls (drain plug, mounting hardware, miscellaneous fasteners). $100 on the public store.

Why it matters on a Cajo: handy to have on hand for second/third-year ownership. See What's in the Cajo Spare Parts Kit.

Stern

The back of the boat.

Why it matters on a Cajo: the stern is where every Cajo hull's Power-Pole bolt pattern lives — rudder, trolling motor, anchor system all bolt back there. The HIN is also etched on the starboard (right) side of the stern.

Standing deck / standing platform

A flat, stable area on top of the hull designed for standing while fishing.

Why it matters on a Cajo: every Cajo rigid (Outpost 100, Terra 116, Outpost 128) has a real standing deck. The Highlander inflatables also support standing thanks to the AirTrek deck stiffness.

Transom

The flat, vertical surface at the very back of the boat — the back wall of the hull.

Why it matters on a Cajo: the transom is the engineering boundary between "designed for this load" and "not designed for this load." Cajos are not designed for gas outboards because the transom isn't rated for the weight and vibration.

Traverse Pedal Drive

Cajo's in-house rotary pedal drive — 10:1 gearbox, instant reverse, indexer-locked prop, industrial stamped aluminum head. Cajo hulls only.

Why it matters on a Cajo: it's our drive. See Anatomy of the Traverse Pedal Drive.

U-connector

The point at the stern of the boat where the two steering cables converge on the rudder pivot.

Why it matters on a Cajo: it's a key maintenance touchpoint — rinse, light marine lube once a season, check for cable wear at this point.

Usable weight capacity

The actual fishing capacity of the boat — how much weight you can load (you + gear) while keeping the boat performing as designed. Different from "stated maximum" on some brands.

Why it matters on a Cajo: when we say the Terra 116 is rated for 475 lb usable, we mean that's what you can actually load with the self-bailing geometry intact. See Usable weight capacity meaning.