Buc,
My 14′ Sea Nymph 14R with just me (245lbs), 50lbs of ballast in the bow, trimmed out one notch 3 gallons of gas in the back with the motor and light chop on the lake I get 12mph with my ’58 Johnson 7.5. My motor is a low hour example that is freshly tuned and the prop is in good shape. Definitely will plane the boat but bow ballast helps a lot.

I have never needed nor used more than 2 packing washers in these carbs. I know some people use 3 every time, but I use 2 always and never have a problem with leaks or loose needles. I too do NOT like strong wind on the lake. Not much fun there.
-Ben

Just seems like the boat won’t plane because the stern is too heavy, you mention you have it "all the way down", so I am assuming the trim pin is tucked in completely.
I would place the tank as far forward as the hose will permit, perhaps add some ballast to the bow….

Try a tiller extension rather than ballast. Every pound counts with a small motor. I use HelmsMate extensions and they work fine. My 6 hp Mercury pushes my 200 lb and a 14 foot Blue Fin (225 lb) at about 14 with the motor jacked up 1/2" and running on the second tilt position. Rig will not plane with me on the back seat.

AV plate about even to an inch below is where most of mine sit on my boats. My Sea Nymph has a slightly shorter transom than my Alumacraft, but they’re close. The night be good for a little more speed sitting just slightly higher, but if I do that I get start to get ventilation in a turn. Here is my ’59 Evinrude Fisherman on my Sea Nymph 14R. The transom is currently out of my Alumacraft, but it sits just slightly higher.
-Ben