I think, and I'm not totally sure on the short lengths of the drivelines on jet boats if this applies as it does in cars, Glen is trying to tell you that unless the centerline of the crank matches exactly up to the centerline of the pump shaft, AT ALL TIMES, you need an offset. (If it did you could just couple it direct).
In cars, we used to use the 180 degree rule. Dunno if this applies or not. Will find out on this Saguaro project soon enough, but the angles of the driveline measured down from centerline of the tailshaft (Crank centerline in this case) and up from the centerline of the pinion in the rear end (Pump shaft in this case), needed to equal 180 degrees. Either adding or subtracting, or median, depending how you measured it.
Hard to explain this, and I think I just confused things even more including myself,

And dunno how you'd easily measure such a short driveline either, without disassembling it and measuring each yoke installed and using the median method.
I think Glens way is easier!
Ray