I know our boats our totally different......but my motor is set up,1" 1/4 above pad.
I have a Sportmaster lower unit and a 14" jack plate .
i remember when I was breaking it in, It was buried at 2 inches below pad and was hard to drive and lots of steering wheel torque. Can't run engine that high unless you have low water pickup.
Those of us who fished Stockton past 20 years and have caught fish out of sunken brush piles, have most likely fished some that a fine Gentleman named Steve had built especially around the Roark area. Sadly, this week Steve, who lived near the Roark area, passed away. God speed to him!