There's a good article here on helm
https://goodoldboat.com/proper-helm-balance/ and it sparked a vague
memory of a conversation in which Stan mentioned balanced helm and assured us that if the sails were set correctly the boat would indeed have weather helm in stronger winds. We played with helm a lot and found this mostly to be true. Weight in the bow  or at least forward of the mast, also helps. Our battery was there and we always kept our water tank full.

Best,
Mary Lou
ex-Rhodes 22
now Rosborough RF-246  Tara

On 6/3/2023 1:14 PM, jpd9668 wrote:
> Mary Lou's post is correct. I had severe weather helm for 2 years until I had an exchange with him telling me the same thing. I previously posted pictures of two rudder positions that clearly show the forward angle of the leading edge of the rudder when properly hauled down and made fast. Here they are again.Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
> -------- Original message --------From: Chris on LBI <cknell at vt.edu> Date: 6/3/23  10:22 AM  (GMT-05:00) To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Lee helm Shawn,I just went back and reviewed the discussion from last Fall (in the thread called "Curved Rudder | 84 Rhodes 22") that dealt with the topic of the rudder angle. In the thread, Mary Lou Troy wrote the following:When we purchased Fretless (recycled) in 1998 we had a number ofdiscussions with Stan about rigging, helm and the rudder. He was quiteclear that the proper position for the rudder underway was pulledforward of vertical so it was somewhat under the hull. Fred and I bothremember the boat as being somewhat sluggish and less responsive if therudder was not pulled far enough forward. Helm was also affected by theposition of the rudder.Based on this input, it would certainly be worthwhile experimenting with the rudder angled somewhat past vertical. I'm interested to learn what you discover.ChrisOn 5/31/2023 10:56 AM, Chris on LBI wrote:> Shawn,>> I'm happy to hear of your experience. We are back on the water this > season and have been out twice using the adjusted rudder angle where > we force a vertical leading edge by cleating the up-haul line. Our > experience is the same as yours ... no more lee helm.>> Both of the outings were dominated by long reaches so I could not > re-check pointing ability. The next test will be to substantiate the > results from late last season where we seemed to be sailing about 5 > degrees higher with the vertical rudder.>> For those who did not follow the discussion last season, I questioned > why the leading edge of my rudder swept forward (about 18 degrees) > when I secured the down-haul. Apparently, on most Rhodes, this is not > the case; instead there is a hard stop keeping the leading edge > vertical when the down-haul is pulled tight. I've attached a photo of > my rudder in the position it takes if not restricted by the up-haul. > The hypothesis is that this forward angle causes lee helm and limiting > pointing ability on Rhodes equipped with this vintage rudder/tiller > assembly.>> Chris>>>>>> On 5/30/2023 6:26 PM, Shawn Boles wrote:>> Hi All:>>>> I couldn't sail at all last year due to septicemia, and so this year >> I was>> anxious to get back in the water and finally did so last week.>>>> As some of you know I spent the last several years or so chasing how to>> correct lee  helm, including an ill-fated attempt to rake the >> mast.(blush)>>>> I tried the method suggested in a set of emails over the past year- >> lifting>> and locking the kick up rudder so it is slightly aft of the stern, >> rather>> than tightly pulled to the stern. It worked!>>>> All hail the list.>>>> Cheers,>> Shawn>> s/v Sweet Baboo> -------------- next part --------------> A non-text attachment was scrubbed...> Name: IMG_4808.jpg> Type: image/jpeg> Size: 77096 bytes> Desc: not available> URL: > <http://rhodes22.org/pipermail/rhodes22-list/attachments/20230531/b4bb6cd7/attachment.jpg>