Some clarifications to get a properly psyched thought. We're talking about small to medium size boats, say in 12- 17 ft range & manual trim.
You can't achieve superb close tight turns prior matching sweet engine/transom height as prop will aerate if engine is not correctly seated. The sweet trim angle is the one that makes the boat to ride parallel to water level once on plane, provided that its well deck balanced. Any badly height seated engine will achieve that cond, but will inevitably aerate at close tight turns.
Sweet trim angle is not my invention, is stated on every engine brand Owner's Manual, the issue with most boaters is that they "don't read" OM, besides the issue of spot on engine height match is not specified in nowhere land. Had to dial it under experimentation myself due to being a maniac boater along running a small business selling boats and engines and can't possible sell a combo with performance issues, bad reputation for myself and business.
When you have finally dialed the sweet engine/transom height you will achieve :
-Best overall water performance on any water cond.
-Impeccable close tight turns at speed, will end up quite dizzy and probably vomiting..
-Faster hole shot.
-Max engine HP output and prop thrust while employing under powered engines on heavier applications.
-Better fuel economy at reduced throttle to maintain good plane.
-Perfect if afterwords going for a prop maximization to suit your boating needs up to a certain HP/Size point.
Can't possible compare my under powered 18 HP Rib toy with those huge professional Ribs powered by 500-700-1400 HP engines, to each his own fruit. The sweet engine/transom height dials the best water bed amount for prop to grip as it should provided that prop faces water flow perpendicular for blade angle of attack to work gripping efficiently with least prop slip. Only achievable under sweet trim angle territory. As everyone loves AV plate realm, check what goes on while lower leg is ridding submerged inside water flow at speed by just varying trim angle off 0 deg. Did you know that sweet water is 1K times denser that air, now imagine salt water flow compacting itself along increasing drag on AV plate while lower tail rides through at speed at different trim angles.
Chech WDP spot on territory behavior comparison.
As can't possible have best of both worlds at same time, that's excellent hole shot and best top speed, went for one less pitch size from factory delivered prop which gives outstanding hole shot with slight less top speed, as opposed to crappy hole shot and slight more top speed. That Rib is rated for a max 50 HP engine, which don't intend to install as my current modest 18 HP takes me and brings me back from far away distances with no shock whatsoever. It's not how fast you want to get there, its all about how much you want to fully enjoy the water ride. 18 HP engines has been powering very efficiently my different 3.0 to 4.50 Mt boats models by just dialing sweet engine height, trim and deck balance.
Sorry folks for hijacking someone else's post, but boating theory is not plain compatible with real boating world well proven & documented practice. Lets hope AGCB resolves his boating issues and starts to have more boating fun than before.
Happy Boating