I'm not afraid of the thru hull, I just don't have a spot to drill another hole in the bottom of my boat where it will be accessable if it died and I need to replace it. My engine compartment is so cramped with the washdown seacock, 2 bildge pumps and the actual washdown pump I would have to mount it under the engine. The shoot thru, I could mount right up against the bulk head under the washdown pump and it would be no issue.