Weather helm

[Waterdog54]

It's been about 50 years since I last sailed a Daysailer ( does that give a clue as to my age bracket ). With #1651 going in the water for the first time next month in about 15 years as far as I'm aware of, after a deck off complete restoration, I have a couple of ?
1: I seem to remember the boat having a bit of intrinsic weather helm in medium to moderate breeze's is this true? ( Of course sail design, condition and mast rake can all affect this)
2: Does everybody sail with the centerboard all the way down or do Ya'll trim the board up a few degree's when close hauled?
3: Is the recommend mast rake a function of weather helm, sail design, or physical limitation. ( ie mast gate)
Thank you,
Waterdog

[GreenLake]

On mine, I've never adjusted the mast rake from the way it was when I bought it. I found it balanced in lighter air but with noticeable weather helm in stronger gusts and more so as the boat gets closer to being overpowered. Sustained stronger winds aren't common at our venue so not much need or opportunity to play with CB rake. My understanding was always that the DS is if anything undersized wrt CB area. Would be interesting to know whether reduction in weather helm gives enough speed advantage to offset increased leeway. I guess that makes me as curious as you on this question.

About your last question. Weather helm is of course due to the center of effort being aft of the CLP. That's why taking the CB up a bit and thus moving the CLP aft will reduce it and raking the mast more will move the center of effort back with an increase in weather helm. Unlike the CLP, the CE is not just affected by the position of the sails but also their trim. We often talk as if the CE is at some geometric mid point of the sail, but that's a crude approximation. If you move the camber forward the CE should move as well.

[Hesedguy]

As Greenlake said, I've found my DS II to be easy and balanced in light airs, but when it heats up there is definitely weather helm. In addition to all Greenlake said, Weather Helm also shows up when there is significant heel pushing the thrust (Center of Effort) outboard of the boat, like a crank handle turning the crank.

As to raising the centerboard, I do it
-when sailing downwind (when trying to squeeze every last ounce out the wind)
-when running with just the main, this pushes the center of lateral resistance back, so matching the center of effort being further back (no jib up front)