Pictures Of The New Shelvin Rock Ramp

[yaknar]

For those of you, who have not made it out to Shelvin Rock this year....Here are a couple pictures of the new ramp.

[Flysmallie]

That's nice.

[RSBreth]

When I looked at it right after they completed the project I wondered how many people will try to launch a boat there that will not make it up very far, or worse, go downstream and have some serious issues getting back up without running over paddlers. Hootentown is too far up for "boats" except in high water but I guess the MDC has to spend the money somewhere.

[vonreed]

That is one fancy butt canoe ramp. But for those of who know, it will be an easy spot to launch canoes and kayaks. I feel sorry for the suckers who try launching motorized boats there, lol. It reminds me of the time I saw a fancy fiberglass bass boat( I'm talking like a ranger or nitro) on James river between highway 160 and Rivercut about a mile from Rivercut. They said it was a heck of a time getting down that far. I just shook my head. I went about another 500 yards and there was a logjam. I don't know where they launched the boat, but they sure weren't going any farther down stream.

[Flysmallie]

It will make things a lot easier. The old launch area sucked.

[Terrierman]

A couple of us put in there and floated down to Hootentown about a month ago. When we were through with the float and swapping boats back up at Shelvin, some cat in a jet boat went right on by. There was plenty of water for a jet.

The location of the new ramp is nice as now you have time to get situated before that first little riffle.

[Wayne SW/MO]

A ramp always helps, even the gravel ramps keep you from dragging a boat.

[RSBreth]

A couple of us put in there and floated down to Hootentown about a month ago. When we were through with the float and swapping boats back up at Shelvin, some cat in a jet boat went right on by. There was plenty of water for a jet.

The location of the new ramp is nice as now you have time to get situated before that first little riffle.

Wait until July. You'll see.

[Osage]

Wait until July. You'll see.

All of James River goes down in mid summer unless it's an exceptionally wet year. What's your point?

[Al Agnew]

Yeah, I hate to see nice concrete boat ramps on streams that are only jetboatable in higher water levels, because it not only brings more jetboats when the river IS higher, but also encourages them to try it at marginal levels. I'd rather have an unimproved access where you have to work a little to get a canoe into the river...keeps away some of the river dorks. However, a concrete ramp, while a lot more expensive to begin with, is a lot more maintenance free, and does make launching a paddle craft a lot easier.