Traverse Pedal Drive: use on a non-Cajo kayak
The Traverse Pedal Drive Mount System is designed specifically for Cajo hulls and inflatables. It's not engineered or supported on other manufacturers' kayaks.
Why it's Cajo-only
The Traverse isn't just a drive — it's a mount system. The lower unit's footprint, the drive cutout dimensions, the rudder cable routing, the engagement geometry between the drive head and the hull above it — all of that is built around Cajo hull design.
A few specifics that don't translate to other brands:
- Drive cutout size and bevel. Each manufacturer's cutout is different. The Traverse won't seal or seat cleanly in a Hobie, Old Town, Vibe, or Native cutout.
- Drive head clearance. The Traverse's industrial stamped aluminum head needs the specific clearance above the cutout that Cajo hulls provide. Other hulls don't have it.
- Rudder cable routing. The Traverse setup expects the Cajo rudder system's cable channels. Without those, you lose foot steering or end up rigging a custom cable run.
We don't certify or support third-party installs
Even if you got the Traverse to mechanically fit a non-Cajo hull (some DIY-minded folks have asked), we can't certify the install, and the drive warranty (5 years on the Traverse) doesn't carry to a non-Cajo install.
If you want a Cajo drive on a non-Cajo boat
The closest path is the Fin Drive Adapter plus a third-party fin drive that fits your kayak's existing drive cutout. The Cajo Fin Drive Adapter is built for Cajo cutouts too, so it doesn't transplant directly — but the Hobie MD 180 or a Pelican / Vibe Hero 2.0 / Lightning Kayaks fin drive, mounted natively in the kayak it came from, gives you a pedal-driven kayak without trying to force a Traverse install.