Boy you are sure getting agressive with this Hobie 18! I like to see the innovation you are willing to commit to. You have been treading in a lot of untested waters and still you go on. My applause to you.

As for the self tacker for the jib. It has to be at the same arc as the clew of the jib. So...while the jib is up on the forstay take the clew in your hand and swing it to a fro. Make very exaggerated movements and imagine the the jib has to go way out. You will see the arc angle that you have to pay attention to by doing this. Okay that is the way to figure out the arc you need and the angle that you can mount the track.

I hope you get lucky and find that there is little modification you have to do to the Fiberglass part, if that is the one you got. I am sure you will have to either cut some out of the middle or add some as you go toward the ends.

One thing you could think about is to mount the middle of the track where you think it should go. Then very gently move the traveller car with the jib attached back and forth to make sure you have the right angle to the jib. When this is right then you can attack the ends with spacers of appropriate length for the rest of the track and secure tightly. After all is well then some foam for shaping and glass for a finished product to make it look as though it belonged there in the first place.

Later,
Dan