gigamurph, I can answer your question regarding dragboat licensing, every time you move up in class say from bracket to progas you must make 2 licensing passes before the competition commitee, one pass is a half track blast, if you pass the half track then it is a banzai, balls to the walls pass to show you are capable of controlling the type boat at the speed for the class, and I have seen several not pass the test, it isn't easy, especially in SDBA and IHBA, no gimmes, hope this answered your ?