Click on settings in the upper right of the screen, then on the left under my account you will see a tab called permission groups. There you can join the boiler room, and get access to brackish waters etc.
If you click on settings in the top right of your screen, then click on general settings, you can exclude any forums you do not wish to see in your what's new.
Make sure you become a supporter before the drawing day. All the best giveaways were to folks with the supporter badge by there name.
http://www.theoutdoorstrader.com/supporter.php