Learn how to measure prop to pad first off.

forget "dots" and etc.. get out a good level, measurin' tape, straight edge and start here:...

http://www.stevescustomprops.com/faq.html#How_do_I_adjust_the_Prop_shaft_engine_height_

ya want ta start with 3 1/2 inches between A and B.

You say you haven’t loaded everything in yet…..Although it makes no sense to me, I’ve spoken to 2 people, 1 from the Elites and 1 boat repair shop owner, who lost speed when they lightened up with lithium battery’s. Something to do with hull design done expecting more weight.

Ok,
There's a lot of guys here who've setup a lot of boats. Ignorance is not a sin, we don't know what we don't know.

IF
You want to find your potential, there's only one way to find it, might take you a couple of hours but it's time well spent, because you'll learn a lot about your rig and what makes it do what it does.

1. Put all your stuff in it. Fill up the gas tank, when you get to the lake, fill up the livewells. A boat setup light and dry will never run right loaded, but a boat setup loaded will still run good light.

2. Get a sharpie, you'll want to mark where you start on the plate. Bring a notepad to record your results. It's too easy to mess this up without writing it down.

3. With your full load at your current setting, go run it. Track holeshot time, and WFO speed/rpms. That's FULL power/FULL trim.

Now listen to your boat, it's going to tell you exactly what it wants. Is the roostertail higher than the motor cowling? Is the boat running flat to the water? Is the steering really stiff? Those are symptoms of being too high for your prop. Now's the time for small moves, 1/4" down until you lose speed, then back up a click. You must know what too high and what too low is, it's the only way to find just right.

And if you swap out props, you get to do it all again, no two are identical.