What are Kayak Gear Tracks?

Kayak gear tracks have become almost indispensable in the world of recreational kayaking. Whether you are an amateur photographer, a professional fisherman, or a fitness aficionado, there are many ways to benefit from gear tracks.

Kayak gear tracks (or accessory rails) are attached to the sides of your kayak to hold all sorts of kayak accessories, from cup holders to GPS systems. They are a cost-effective way to customize your kayaking experiences as accessories can be swapped out, switched, and strategically placed to make the most of your activity.    

Installation of Kayak Accessory Rails

Gear tracks are so beneficial and handy that most of today’s kayaks come with them already installed. If, however, you find yourself without them, they can be installed aftermarket as well. Since bolting them to the sides of your ‘yak will require drilling, you might want to bring it to a professional. However, it can be done at home as well. Be sure to follow all manufacturer’s instructions. Once you’ve attached the slotted track, you can slide a T-bolt into the rail and secure all sorts of accessories. They can be loosened and removed in just seconds.  

Accessories for Kayak Gear Tracks

Most of these rails are standard sizes, so accessories from many different manufacturers can fit seamlessly into them. Here are just a few accessories you might consider depending on your chosen activity. These aren’t exhaustive lists, and things on one list often also transfer to the others.    

Recreational Accessories:

• Cup holders
• Light-duty cleats 
• Flags & lights
• Cellphone mount
• GPS mount
• Paddle holders
• Pop-up sail 

Fishing Accessories:

• Rod / paddle holders
• Transducer arms
• Fish finders
• Tool holders
• Storage Box System
• Utility Table
• Anchor pulley system

Photography Accessories:

• Camera mounts
• Gimbel Head mount
• Bimini Awning
• Navigation lights
• Anchor pulley system

Other Accessories:

• Track Ball mount
• Gun mount
• Tie-down attachments 
• Retractor (leash) mount
• Outriggers
• Side-mount trolling motors

Customization with Gear Tracks

Attaching and removing different accessories is so easy that you can quickly customize your craft. If you want to move something to a different spot on the gear track, it can be shifted quite rapidly. Depending on your activity, you can swap your fish finder for a GPS or your rod holder for a cupholder. Add navigation lights for your evening excursion or slip in another rod holder for an intense day of fishing. 

Since many kayaks have just a single paddler, gear tracks can become another set of hands to hold accessories, tie down supplies, or troll your line. They offer so much versatility and functionality to your craft that you won’t know how you ever lived without it. 

One word of caution, however, is that accessory rails aren’t indestructible, and depending on how it is mounted and what it is made out of, you will want to be aware of how much stress you place on the rail. In particular, a plastic track might not withstand the force of a trophy bass bending the line. Manufacturer-installed rails are often flush-mounted into the structure of the kayak, so they are sturdier than after-market rails that attach to the outside of the kayak. 

Whatever you want to do on your kayak, you can be sure that gear tracks can up your kayaking game. And there are so many accessories to choose from that you will have your Christmas wish list on lock for years to come. Happy Paddling!