> Take some glass tape (say 1in wide) and wrap a few layers
> around this front end. Epoxy the top, side and bottom of this tape.

This contradicts the tight mount approach so don't wrap just cut some 1x2 scraps and push in from the side.

other possibilities:

1/drill another hole halfway down the track, mount glass from the side there also and cut the track in half. saves wt. and space . Do it for your personal yak so you don't have to change it much if ever. But if you have to you can mount it to the back or to the front for the whole range.

2/ Take the track pcs left over and rip off the flange nubs w/ the tablesaw. wax the i/s and spray with hairspray. Take say 8 pcs of 3in x 6in scrap cloth, wet out and jam the 3in sides in the channel, squeeze the o/s edges betw two waxed and sprayed 1x4, twist 60deg and let set up. You now have another sliding footpeg canted at 30deg. Clean it up, drill a hole thru the bottom and mount the track 4in down from the other. Attach yer rudder cable to the pedal hole.

You now have fixed pegs for bracing plus a second sliding set to steer with or maybe attach your skeg raising cable to.

-mick