Bill,
I concluded the same thing looks cool doesn't save much weight. It does allow for air movment if it gets wet inside. It only took about 5 minutes to drill them. I have seen on some surf boards they actually cut off the lower half of the frame after the hull is built. I am trying to make it reasonably light but at the same time it needs to survive the next 4 years of college use so it will not be a light weight winner as much as a battle tank.
Scott
: :

: I'd guessed that with all the lightening holes that the frames
: would stay in place :)

: I did that on the catamaran kayak, still uncompleted btw, and later
: one weighed all the hole cutouts, not worth the effort, saved a
: few ounces. Looks really cool though :)

: A slightly thinner plywood would work for the frames and would save
: more weight and take a heck of alot less time than drilling all
: those holes.

: Bill H.