Jerry, couple of insights for you from my H17:

1. Lay out your old shrouds along side the new ones and you will quickly have an answer on the length question. I replaced mine this spring. The new ones were very slightly shorter than those replaced. I can rotate to 100-110 degrees downwind.

2. Confirm the new shrouds are matched to each other in overall length. You do not want mismatched sets.

3. I will try to put my hands on a couple of H17 tuning guides that I could email to you. One was published in the Hobie Hotline probably around 1989. In 2 issues..Sweet 17 and then Sweet 17 revisited. I believe Bob Curry may have written one also that is emailable. They discuss mast rake, rudder rack, helm, etc.

4. I will confirm but I believe I am at the 3rd or 4th forestay hole from the top. I sail with light to moderate helm with the rudders raked all of the way forward. Nothing I need to fight with.

5. Where are you in terms of rudder rake adjustment?

Sail on, Tom G