My background is from Salt Water. Back in the 70s and 80s. If you listened to 16 (VHF) you will quickly turn to some other channel ...or turn it OFF, because the Chatter is SO constant.
There was a small group of friends that monitored either VHF 68..or More likely VHF 72. Ch 72 usually was quiet..nobody used it except us. We would agree at the beginning of the day..we were
Cruising In Company ....what channel to monitor. It wasn't 16.
In salt water, we were
Going Somewhere: two or three boats. We were going to Block Island, Cuttyhunk, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket..etc..Overnight.
Fast Forward: Lake Winni. I had numerous conversations with Marine Patrol about VHF...on the docks at Wolfeboro. I didn't just take the first conversation as Truth..I asked other MP for their input.
The bottom line was: NOBODY (at least on the lake) uses VHF anymore. We.. (MP) don't monitor it.
NB