I think I got it figured out... I was sitting too far to the stern, with my back against the coaming. That placed the widest part of the coaming lip right in front of me, giving my thumbs a huge target to hit.

On tonight's paddle, I shifted myself forward, putting myself in the rough center of the coaming. I felt much more secure there than I did during my first paddle. Didn't knock my thumb knuckle but once during the hour long paddle. It did a number of my hips, sitting like that, but it felt like a good ache... the kind that implies it'll get better with practice and exercise. I'll keep an eye on it, though. It's nice having an occupational therapist for a wife, too. She'll have no problem telling me what I should be doing *grin & wink*. Seein' as the rest of my body hurts, too... at least it's a "just exercised a lot and I'm out of shape" all over ache.

The local paddle shop is running a Fundamentals of Kayaking class next Monday... I figure I'll be hitting that, and either buying/renting/begging a spray skirt in the process.