"Brian Nystrom" wrote in message
...
The simple answer is to agree on a channel to use before the trip, then
make contact on it. Channels 68, 69, 72 and 73 are for general
communication, with 72 and 73 being the most widely used.

We used to just monitor the pre-designated channel until the Coast Guard
called us once to tell us to do all of our "hailing" on ch 16 and then
switch. Out here in CA, the most popular channels to use are 68 & 69.