You are way over thinking it. Every sterndrive powered boat in the world has the engine aligned while out of the water. I am not one to necessarily do something just because "that is the way it is done" but in this case it is fine :)

Hang the rear off the drive with a stock flywheel housing (stock setup) and use an offshore mount on the front. Do you think the boat has balance issue that justifies moving the engine?

Any movement you have will not be as a result of putting the boat in the water, it will be from impact while running.

If you are at all serious about running the boat hard the last thing you want is all that stuff flexing or the nuts loosening on the pedestals. I assume the drive-line adapter is going to be bolted to the transom. It is not going to like the engine moving around in front of it. Also if you plan on running one of those polyurethane drive savers I am not sure you can find it with the Spicer bolt pattern you will need.

Aligning the engine in the water is primarily for wood boats and big cruisers. They do move a bit when blocked up on land or after the bottom soaks when wet (wood boat).

aligning in the water like an inboard was exactly what i was thinking,
yes the hanger bearing carrier bolts to the inner transom plate, it's a bravo jackshaft / driveline set up w/out using the drive shaft

and yup way overthinking it is my middle name (where do think out on safari comes from ? i'm out on safari )

on the transom i guess it is

thanks bam, appreciate it,
dan

These are 6 x 6 so I'm not sure they will work, but I am using them and the price is pretty good, the price is for 1 angle, and one backing plate.

http://greatlakesskipper.com/catalog...q=1051066&cat=