: Hello everyone,
: I have been asked by one of my friends to ask a question on
: building/paddling forums:

: Q: Will the lack of a left thumb affect ability to paddle with a
: Greenland paddle?

: Some background:
: My friend and paddling partner, who exclusively uses Greenland
: paddles with his handmade kayaks (Merganser, Outer Island), was
: working in his yard on a project when the power saw hit
: something in the wood, jumped and cut off his LEFT thumb, just
: above the knuckle at the base of the thumb. He has a small knob
: remaining and is concerned this will affect his paddling
: ability.

: Any answers appreciated and I will forward all replies to him over
: the next few days.

: Thanks!
I may be late to this but I paddle that way all the time with my greenland paddle. Well, I put my thumbs on the same side as my fingers rather than the opposing side, anyway. I still have two thumbs, but it's certainly possible to paddle without them. It will take some adjustment and might be more difficult for more powerful strokes, but it's certainly possible.

FrankP