how do scupper holes in Kayaks work? Why can boats and ships not have holes

Question

(I understand that it’s used to drain water, but how does the physics of this work? I’ve grown up thinking if there’s a boat with a hole it’ll sink)

In: 10

Answer 1

[Ships and boats do have holes that do the same thing.](https://www.discoverboating.com/sites/default/files/what-is-a-bilge-pump.jpeg) Since there are places below the waterline where water can collect inside a ship’s hull a ship needs to be pumped out with a bilge pump rather than just draining out because of gravity like with a sit on top kayak.