Most H-17 sailors have the rig loose enough to allow the mast to rotate freely to about 10 degrees past the beam. As for rake, Attach a tape measure to your halyard shackle, run it up the mast and hook the ring at the top. Then measure to the top of the traveler track in the middle. Most sailors rake so this dimension is about 27'. I suspect this is about what you originally had.

The amount of mast rake effects the degree to which the rudders are loaded. More rake results in more loading on the rudders. However by raking the rudders forward you can reduce the load transmitted through the tiller to your hand.As a starting point if you place a batten flat against your transom and let it extend down along the side of the rudder the front edge of your rudder should be about an inch in front of the transom line at its maximium point. This should result in a very light helm. Opinions differ slightly on these measurements but this is how my boat is set up.