For all of the responders who have suggested a loop of line rather than a handle, let me tell you about the permanently bunged knuckle on my left ring finger. I grabbed my whitewater boat with said finger through an end loop. The errant boat proceeded to do some fancy twists while entrapping the unfortunate digit. I got three things out of the incident: a permanently enlarged knuckle, which makes wearing a wedding ring unwieldy, a 'hero' story about paddling the next 18 miles of Class IV to the takeout with one finger sticking out at an odd angle, and an appreciation for grab handles that can be firmly grasped but easily released.