...the panels I made are just out of a light luan ply, maybe 3/16", epoxied and painted...

Larry's mention of his nets, however, makes me wonder... I'd bet that Phifertex mesh material could be surprisingly effective as a weather cloth, certainly wouldn't be a barrier to water passing thru, but I'd bet it would cut it down to a considerable extent as he mentions, and would certainly have a lot less pressure on it if it ever were to be hit by green water...

I think it would be interesting to try, it could still afford a degree of privacy in a cockpit, but yet allow air to circulate in warm weather, and not feel quite so closed in...

Just what we need, different weathercloths for summer and winter, warm water and cold... (grin)