Controls to Motor - Where to Drill

[Rufneck]

I am restoring a 23 footer and have installed a Hermco bracket. I am about to run the steering hoses and controls for the motor. I have seen most Hermco brackets have everything run through the bracket and then to the motor. I don't really understand why this would be preferable over running everything through the transom of the boat.

Drilling into the bracket just introduces another leak path into the bracket which is worse given that the top of the bracket is at the waterline. If running through the transom, the penetration into the hull could be well above the waterline.

Please help me understand.

thanks