Excellent question. Those are called scupper holes. The purpose is this. When you are out and about kayaking and you get splashed with waves or whatever As the hours go on you will notice the water accumulate and those holes drain the water. They do not go into the kayak or anything like that they go straight down to the lake. There are plugs you can use if you wish, but you take the plugs out when you want to drain excess water that is standing at your feet.