Also with the upper Pitt it's not just dangerous when a boat loses power, it's very dangerous during low water conditions because when you are jetting down river you don't always have the deep water, or proper course to use your jet power to maneuver properly. Like the Vanc Sun article said it is very different coming down a river in a jet boat than going up it.
I've been in some very sketchy white water situations and low water conditions in my jet boat where I turn my boat around and slowly back down the river using forward thrust to safely control my downriver course; instead of half haphazardly letting the river take me down stream on it's own while pointed down river.
I learned that on the upper Stave when I was spun completely around in a 180 degrees and smashed into a log jam hard. It was by mistake that it happened and it was one of the best and quickest learning experiances I've had in that boat yet. I've never seen any guys doing this on any rivers yet except the Fraser Canyon and by a guide on the Stamp.
It would definitely ruffle some feathers if the upper Pitt was restricted to drift boats only but I personally think it is the right thing to do with the way things are up there.
There's no pre-requisite for jet boat owners pass a course on running shallow, or white water rivers so more and more of these sad accidents are going to keep happening. And if the captain experiences engine failure or jet flow problems then he is at the mercy of the river.
In the Sun article they mention guys should carry grapple anchors in case of loss of power. That's a good thing, yes, only if you are on a straight course and have no other obstacles in the way etc. or log jams. Tossing a grapple at the wrong time can also cause the boat to have the bow or sides forced downwards under the fast moving water which will inevitably sink the boat. So much can go wrong on a jet boat so quickly. I've had my steering cable bust on me twice in about 6 years. Thank god they were at times where I was in a semi safe situation. If that kind of thing happens when you are hard steering around a rock or dead head then you will be in big trouble.