Positioning the outboard low is a risk. Higher and long shaft is safer.
Once, long ago, I had an Alan Wright Pacer (24ft) trailer yacht. In cook strait, in strong conditions, trying to get into Tory Channel, several times the outboard was completely immersed by following seas - I would not have wanted one mounted any lower! Yes, fortunately it kept going! It was a long shaft mariner. Also, as the motor is mounted right aft, they are prone to lifting props out of the water when choppy.....