20 hp mercury '73 idle, trim issue

[seanymphmike]

I have a '73 mercury model 200, 20 hp outboard on a '71 Sea Nymph 14' with console steering. When I have the motor set up with the trim pin in the second hole, the boat will plane but won't idle. With the trim pin in the first hole or without it at all the motor will idle but the boat just plows through the water and won't get up on plane. I have had two different mechanics tell me now that this motor will not idle with the trim pin past the first hole because of the carb. I was told a hydrofoil stabilizer might help get the boat on plane. Any advice? Is there a solution to the idle issue with the carburetor that would allow me to trim the motor out to the next index hole? I know the consensus in this forum seems to be that a hydrofoil stabilizer is a band-aid, but in this case is it a reasonable solution? I have one. I just don't know if I want to drill holes in my cavitation plate if there's a better answer.