I suspect something other than the rudder on your 32-3.
Like most other boats from name designers in the 80's it has a semi-balanced rudder like the C&C.
It's possible that your former boat had even more blade cross-section in front of the shaft axis, but it's hard to say without a good picture or diagram.
From looking over some photos of sisterships on Yachtworld, it looks like the post is about a quarter of the way back, but it's hard to see exactly.
How much helm is a "bit of weather helm"? After all, you want some weather helm on any boat. How is the main on your particular boat? Often a used boat will come with a tired and baggy main, albeit white in color, no patches, and well attached at the primary corners...
Rig upright? (Not raked back for some reason.)
Finally, is there an underlying question possible about drag in the whole steering system? I ask due to our finding quite a bit of hardened grease in the rudder tube that made the steering rather stiff for many of the early years with our used boat.
Let us know what you discover, and if you have some pics of the rudder blade taken during the survey haul, please post 'em.
And, apropos of nothing more than trivia... which C&C 29 did you have? the larger late-70's mk1 or the 80's smaller mk 2?
Best,
Loren