I'd go to the postings on Mini-V and get a better look at out drive.. Now for me i'd put motor further ahead, across the barrier and put a stuffing tube in and take out all the out drive except the plate at the transom. Also go to Jeff Wohlts Rc boat and check out his SH . I did a Mini-V but kept outdrive. I put a .98 cable in and a 1/8" cable shaft put 5/32 brass tubing to help support the cable shaft. Now at transom the stuffing tube has teflon in it to keep water out + cable can flex with outdrive for turning. Now when using cable, a guy can put oil on cable and put GOOP right at hole and let dry but won't cling to cable. I bet you confused. Trim tabs should be level .I just completed a hull ( just hull and topper ) just about what you are doing. Now it was a Villian EX at 30" long. The Grauper 700-8.4 has more rpm like 1745 and the sc has 1470 rpm but can run on 16 cells while 8.4 runs best at 12-13 cells and a 440 prop carbon fiber.