What are these holes in my lower unit?

[prater]

I noticed while changing my water pump this week that there are two small holes on the lower unit right next to the front two mounting bolts. One on each side. They face downward so I never noticed them, but when I got off the lake they drained some water. What are these holes for?

 

[roscoe]

Re: What are these holes in my lower unit?

Drain holes.

Drains water out of the mid section, so it can not freeze and break things.

 

[beckspop]

Re: What are these holes in my lower unit?

Man, I wondering that same thing... just never got around to asking. Mine point strait out though, inside the leg there is a rubber boot connecting them to the exaust channel.