Gunwale grabbing

What is a gunwale?

A gunwale on a canoe is the upper edge or trim of the canoe on both sides that runs from front to back. They form the shape of the canoe and are made of plastic, aluminum, or wooden strips.

If you grab the gunwales

Contrary to conventional thinking about stability, bracing yourself in whitewater by grabbing the gunwales will not increase stability. Your instincts want to grab on to something stable, but you're grabbing the very thing that's tipping. So there's no bracing effect at all, though your brain really really wants there to be. 

What's more, it actually makes things worse. By essentially locking your upperbody to the canoe gunwales, you're making your high centre of gravity sway with the boat, and you greatly increase your chances of falling in. Click the demonstration to see what it looks like. Your upperbody weight will work against you and over you will go.

If you don't grab the gunwales

Conversely, if you hang on to your paddle, keep your hips loose, and let the boat move under you, you'll greatly decrease your chances of going for a swim. Being loose will keep your centre of gravity straight up and still in the middle of the canoe, as shown by the diagram. It's not easy though—you will have to overcome the instinct to grab on to something when you feel you are falling over. But with enough practice over the years, it will become second nature to not be a gunwale-grabber.