Yes you can get the rudders balanced better than what you are experiencing with them presently.

I had the same problems when I got the boat. First though I have to tell you that I sailed Hobie 16s for about 17 years. In that time I learned how to get the rudders on that boat just the way I liked them, with a hint of weather helm in both directions. I then sailed the Hobie 20 for about 5 years. I set the boat up to sail as much like a 16 as I could helm-wise. When I started sailing the Tiger it got just a bit trickier to get the helm right. I was thinking that it had something to do with the fact that we are putting up double the sail area when we go downwind and that is all attached to the front. Thereby pulling the boat downwind (leehelm).

With a combination of mast rake and rudder adjustments I was able to get the boat set up with a bit of weather helm both upwind and downwind. Some people like to have leeward helm downwind as it will remind them which way to turn the boat when they get in trouble (that is lower).

Start with mast rake, then go to rudders. With the trapeze wires add a bit of line so you can measure right to the pin that attaches the bridle to the boat. Run the line back to the transom. If you make sure you are near as you can be to the top of the rudder gudgeon, you will be at a good starting place.

For the rudders you will want to kick them back a bit to increase your weather helm, like you would on a 16. It takes little adjustment to change the action of the helm. I used vinyl tape (electricians) and went in a figure eight around the bottom part of the rudder casting in order to kick the rudders back just a bit. You do not want to build it up too much. It will take some sailing sessions to get it dialed in to what you like. In the end I think I had about four layers of tape to get the rudders right. When I was happy with the results I fiberglassed a shim onto the rudder that thickness.

I had to go through the same process with the new rudders to get them to my style.

Later,
Dan