See if this helps: reach behind the guage, loosen the trim ring holding it in place, and turn the guage 90 deg clockwise.
Now it is in the same plane as the plate itself. So when the needle is horizontal (at approx 50%) so is your plate, And when the needle is up (near zero%), so is your plate.
I did this a week after getting our '02 SSV and never looked back. Now what would make it perfect Skiers Choice, would be a picture of a side profile boat hull in the guage, like Sanger have.
Hope this helps! Keith.