[Fr. Frank]

The cavitation plate must be measured with it being exactly parallel to the keel. Your photos show negative trim angle. I suspect you will find the cav plate a bit below the keel and neutral trim angle.

The suggestion to raise it one mounting hole at a time is a good one, although I suspect you're going to end up raising it two holes. For an outboard, the ideal trim angle under way is with the cavitation plate perfectly parallel to the direction of travel with the hull at optimum angle of attack, and the rotating propeller blades just barely piercing the surface. Unfortunately, the only hull I've ever seen that ideal achieved with is an Allison XTB.

SO we compromise. Raise the motor, use a sternlifting prop, and play with trim angles.

BTW, a sternlifting prop is one which provides most of it's lift from the inner 1/2 of the diameter of the blade length. That's why progressive-rake 4 blades provide more sternlift than 3, and cleaver blades LOTS more sternlift than chopper or "big ear" props.