Jay, I have built 2 boats (one hard chine and one multi chine) using !/8" doorskins and am currently building a third. Using a strong light behind the panel is how I spot voids. If there are only a couple, I use a grinding bit (sort of like a dentist's bit) on my dremel to cut through one face ply and fill the void with thickened epoxy. It usually takes me some searching to find good doorskins; not every Home Depot carries them and those that do seem to have quality that varies over time. I just keep searching. I glass the cockpit area for additional strength and abrasion resistence. Yes, the panels do flex when I step into the boat. My paddling is mainly flat water --- coastal creeks, marshes, ICW, etc. of NE Florida. Hope this helps. Dave