Yes, there is no doubt Mel is the bomb but I didn't just sit around and watch her. While she was waxing away I spent the day freeing up my adjustable bracket that hadn't moved in 9 years.
I have the motor moved up a full inch to see what that does. In retrospect I wished I would have bolted a new one on while everything was apart. That thing was just about to the point of being welded together.
Can't wait to give it another try this coming weekend. This time it will be with a full trip load in home waters conditions. Numbers from this run will really tell me what I have. Empty boat runs are great for gatherings and channel races for the ramp but the fine tuning I'm concerned with will be focused on speeds from 18 to 32 knots with a loaded boat. From limited testing so far I feel the new motor will really shine in my real world requirements.