And know how to use it. Last Saturday, as I was prepping my whaler in
the parking lot at the Monterey Breakwater, there was some fellow on
VHF Ch 16 say "Is anybody out there?" over and over again.


It should have occured to you that someone might be in trouble. For instance, a
guest on a boat might not know the procedure for calling for help. A person in
shock or suffering some other medical problem might also not follow proper
procedure.
Best to respond to anything on 16 beyond radio checks.

RB
Alien C&C32
City Island, NY