C-Forum

canoe paddlers keep their lower hands (sic) above the gunwale.
(Vol 10. No. 1 page 23)
What do you do?
Bottom hand above the gunwale, level or below?

I move my lower hand depending on my reach. For close-in strokes, especially when I am trying to get a lot of power, my hand is generally at or below the gunwale.

Below the gunwale, nearly always.

my lower hand is almost always below the gunwale. it would seem that you would have to choke way up on the shaft to keep it above the gunwale.

That's an interesting question. Take a look at all the photos shot at ALF. nearly everyone has their bottom hand about halfway up the shaft rather than down low. Before you answer "below the gunnel" look at a picture of yourself paddling.
I tend to keep my hand very low. I first realized this when my hand was always cold and wet. Then in looking at pictures I realized I kept my hand right at the top of the blade. I made a wood paddle this winter and purposefully made a long blade just to keep my hand higher!
It would seem you have more control and power with a lower hand but better reach with a higher hand.

How about a poll?

My hand is above.

mine is above too, always

does riding on a low brace all the time count as "below the gunnel"?

Below, but I paddle C-1 more frequently than OC-1.

John

When I started, I was told, by a big name instructor who's name you'd all recognize, that in whitewater the shaft hand should always be above the gunwale.
A couple of weeks ago I was told, by another big name instructor who's name you'd all recognize, that the shaft hand should be only an inch or two above the blade, which certainly places that hand below the gunwale.
What are the pros/cons of either grip position - anyone care to comment?

above gunnel keeps me from smackin my thumb on the gunnel.

higher up makes it easier for me to do cross strokes

Pros for high-hand... not banging your knuckles on the gunwale. Long reach.

Pro for low-hand... converting the maximum amount of force at your shaft hand into force on the water.

Shep

This is a class 3 lever...

[img]http://www.legoeducation.us/sharedimage ... _lever.gif[/img]

... where you would want to place effort depends on several things. The amount of force needed, the amount available, the velocity desired, probably others.... Google it for yourself.

What if you're paddling class 4 or 5?

We would be seeing the video...