Abstract: A pair of telescoped inner and outer tubes together provide a post-like handle that is mounted on the gunwale of a boat. The outer tube is fixed to the top of the gunwale and projects down through a hole in the gunwale, and the inner tube which forms the actual handle slides in the outer tube between a lowered inoperative position beneath the gunwale to a raised operative position standing erect and rising to a convenient height above the gunwale. A spring-pressed latch moves with the inner tube and snaps into an annular groove that is fixed with respect to the outer tube and located directly above the gunwale, to secure the inner tube against either upward or downward movement. A resiliently manually actuated loop located in the annular groove enables the latch to be dislodged from the groove when it is desired to lower the handle.