PVC bunks and the hull: scupper damage risk
Not on a Cajo — our hulls are good-to-go with parallel PVC bars running down the load-bearing channels, so 6.5" on-center spacing keeps weight off the scupper area entirely.
It depends on the manufacturer and the hull design. Cajo boats are good-to-go with parallel PVC bars running down the channels under the hull, so 6.5" on-center spacing won't cause damage at the scupper area.
Why Cajo hulls are bunk-friendly
The bottom of every rigid Cajo has dedicated load-bearing channels — the long flat ribs that run the length of the hull on either side of the centerline. They're designed to carry the weight of the boat off the trailer bunks. The scupper holes sit outside those channels, on the deck face of the hull, so they don't take load when the bunks are spaced correctly.
At 6.5" on center, the PVC bars track right down those channels. The scupper area never touches the bunks.
When you'd want to be more careful
The "it depends on the manufacturer" hedge matters because not every kayak hull is built this way. Some sit-on-tops have flatter undersides where the scupper drains are part of the load-bearing surface — you don't want PVC pressing on those.
Our boats aren't in that category. If you're carrying a Cajo on a generic trailer that was previously dialed in for a different brand, just confirm:
- The PVC bars run fore-to-aft under the load-bearing channels (not crosswise across the scuppers)
- Bars sit at about 6.5" on center
- The boat rides level, with no pressure points visible on the underside after a haul
A note on long-term storage
If you store the boat on the trailer between trips, that's fine on a Cajo HDPE hull — the bunks are doing what they were designed to do. For multi-month off-season storage, lifting the boat off and storing on its side or under a saddle stand is gentler on any kayak.
Related links
Was this helpful?
Still need a hand?
Talk to us