Radio Etiquette and the lack thereof...

[sluissa]

Originally Posted by GordMay

I don’t mean to be a smart aleck; but it sounds like you need an electrical upgrade (batteries and/or radio).
A fixed VHF will draw much less than 1.5Amps/Hour average (1.5A @ Max Rx, but 0.05A on standby); which is a lot less than your "standard” anchor light draws (overnight).

I do need an electrical upgrade and it is one thing on my list of planned things to do once I have the money. But, at the moment, I don't. The anchor light is yet another problem. But that is another thread.

[dana-tenacity]

Originally Posted by GordMay

In general, any vessel equipped with a VHF marine radiotelephone (whether voluntarily or required to) must maintain a watch on channel 16 (156.800 MHz) whenever the radiotelephone is not being used to communicate.

Sources:
FCC 47 CFR §§ 80.148, 80.310,
NTIA Manual 8.2.29.6.c(2)(e),
ITU RR 31.17, 33.18, AP13 §25.2

No need to shout. I'm aware of that ( still checking to see if it is also the case here in NZ.
I sailed for years without one, so leaving it off really isn't that big a deal.

[David M]

Who wants to listen to the chatterbox all day long?..not me. I dislike being required to monitor Ch16. As for being on a yacht?..no way. Not during the weekends in crowded waters when the amateurs are discussing their personal lives on 16. It's as irritating as someone standing in line behind you forcing their cellphone conversation upon you. Most people have no concept about keeping their communications brief.