There is not an easy answer to this delima. Consider the primary purpose of the on board radio and the requirments the FCC, Coast Guard and the ITU have put on it's use. First if you have a radio on board it must by federal law be tuned to watch channel 16 except when it is activley being used to communicate on another channel. I know that this requirement is bypassed by a great number of the boaters today. But consider the safety of your crew or a fellow boater if you miss an urgent marine warning or PAN for assistance to a nearby boat in distress. Having covered all that, channel 9, and 68 are generally used boat to boat hailing with the other as working channels. My suggestion to get around a lot of this would be a call on 16 something like this . WAKINA to WC. then any Walleye.com memember can respond WC(member name) to WAKINA . Channel 68 or whatever channel you would choose at the time. If another Channel is less busy then it would be an option but by hailing on 16 to WC you identify yourself to other members as a member requesting info. or contact. The responding member would comeback as whatever their member name is preceeded by WC. With suggestion on a working channel to tune to.

My thoughts on a tricky situation.