So some of the messages in Kudzu's thread about paddler weight got me thinking... what is a good freeboard general rule (if there is one)?

I've been paddling my slightly modified Nikumi for about 8-10 hours now, and I've noticed at the cockpit there is very little freeboard. The boat has a significant rocker (at least the way I built it) so my stems are quite a bit higher than my cockpit is. I'm quite comfortable in the boat, to the point where I can literally lay back on the deck flat and continue paddling, but if I rest my arms down on the gunwhales, my elbows are literally in the water.

The boat is incredibly stable, even in some fair chop (6 inches to about 10 inches) and she paddles great, but I have a lot more freeboard, even in my greenland inspired NorthBay.

So the question is, what's the general comfort rule for designs? Obviously every individual person is going to have a different comfort level, but I'm looking for general design rules. I would suspect 2-3 inches is the norm, and that may be what the Nikumi has, when unmodified, but I have no more than an inch or so at the cockpit with varying levels at the bow and stern.

Any one have any ideas?

FrankP