Abstract: A paddle for a boat such as a canoe having a blade and a handle connected by an intermediate portion, all on a common axis, is formed with a modified T-shaped or contoured handle comprising a cross member at the end of the intermediate portion, the cross member being normal to the axis and having discreet prominent projections at the ends thereof extending toward the blade generally parallel to the axis and the intermediate portion being gently enlarged near the handle to provide an abutment or support for the canoeist's palm when his fingers grasp the handle in use of the paddle, the projection, cross member and abutment on each side of the axis of the paddle being formed to provide a generally circular opening of sufficient size to receive the base of the canoeist's thumb and with an access slot having a width approximately the diameter of the circular opening between the free end of the projection and the abutment, the free ends of the projections extending at least to approximately the line joining the ce

Abstract: A paddle for manually propelling a canoe or the like. The paddle includes the usual grip member establishing the upper end thereof and the usual blade member establishing the lower end thereof. An intermediate member is included which interconnects the grip member and the blade member with the major axis of the grip member angularly aligned with the plane of the blade member. Certain elements of the intermediate member may be rotatably connected one to the other by a longitudinally extending pivot pin. Accordingly, relative rotational movement of these elements may be effective to vary the pitch of the blade member with respect to the grip member. Quick release locking structure may also be included for selectively locking the blade member to the grip member in any one of several discrete predetermined positions.