"This setup made it through the roughest sailing I've ever done."

Engine: Mercury 9.9 long shaft Bracket: Garelick model 71039

141OB

141OB

141OB

141OB

Most outboard installations appear closer to the water because they are short shafts. You could, in fact, use a short shaft on the Triton, but would have to install the bracket much lower where the mounting plate is partially submerged. This would make the throttle arrangement difficult at best to handle. The photo angles are somewhat misleading, when the cockpit is manned and we're underway the prop is well in the water, the water level is several inches above the cavitation plate. There are only a few inches (3-4?) between the bottom of the mounting plate and the water, which is what another Tritoneer noted is appropriate on the MIR page - allows the motor's inner working to stay safely out of the water and within arms reach so you can work on it as necessary.

The directions that came with this bracket indicate that the cavitation plate should be just under sea level. In rough waters, the engine ends up dipping low more often than it ends up out of the water. As for locking, it locks in place in about 4 different positions, and has a safety lock (the loose stainless "arm" you see in the close up) when you have it in the full up position. The little red handle you see disengages the lock and allows you to move the engine up and down with the assistance of a pretty hefty spring mechanism. It's very well designed, and unlike most brackets, allows you to compensate for the transom angle.