if you can move yours in to 12 without buying a jackplate i would try it for sure ,if you could move it in to 10 i would try that also. it all depends on how much weight you have up front and how your weight is distributed in the boat. prolly have fewer waves rolling over the back of your boat while fishing and have a little better holeshot, i have a 225 on the back of my bass racer and really like the way it drives and handles at all speeds with 10in.of setback and propshaft about 1/8 below the pad for all around usage.