Just a comment...
And without wishing to be a killjoy or a smartypants...
...Further up in the thread it was mentioned that chanel 6 was a chat channel.
Unfortunately, and despite listening to the constant drivel last Thursday, whilst fishing at the Needles with all the boats in the cod comp around, there is actually no such thing as a "Chat Channel".
Despite the above and what you may be told or listen to elsewhere a VHF is for distress and brief information exchange only and is designed for use as a "working" / saftey device not as a CB.
If people wish to use the airwaves for chat then they should use CB or mobile phone not VHF.
It is perfectly fine and proper to use the VHF to start / end a comp, let people know where you are or that you are moving, but it isn't supposed to be used for chatting about tomorrow's Sunday Roast, what your getting your wife for Christmas etc.
That said, all the above about low power is exactly right and if you do need to ask / talk more in depth then always use low power.
As I said, I don't wish to be a killjoy, but during a VHF course you should be taught what you can and can't use it for.
...Mind you, I will still have a mini conversation with a nearby boat, just switch to mobile if it gets a little more in depth.
Tom
He is absolutely right y'know 
The trouble is we have so many laws that no begger takes a blind bit of notice of that more and more we all ignore more important rules 'because others do it and get away with it'.
I have never heard the coastguard telling any of the chatters to clear the channel, in fact I have never heard anyone chastise the channel hogging booring meanderings of so called 'professional' skippers.
Mad Mike
Mike try chatting on 16 you will soon get a rocket from CG. They do not however monitor other channels. Channel 6 is in fact a safety/ship to ship channel. As Tom says the purpose of VHF is not for general chit chat, but passing information.
This club used to advocate all boats had CB to use for general chit chat in fact Maverick still has CB onboard but unfortunately not many others have it available. This is a shame as CB is not listended to by charter boats or other angling type boats so although not secure are less likely to give your marks away when chatting.
Anyone fancy fitting cb to their boat as it's rather lonely talking to myself 
Martin
Some one should tell those couple of charter skippers, I think they are from the IOW who are always going on endlessly about their cars, wives etc etc. The ones with a strong west country accent
Gordon,
I seem to recall you did tell them once ( before I stopped you whilst in full flow ). 
Something along the lines of "couple of old women" etc. etc. 
Thanks Tom
Perhaps I was being a little light hearted by refering to it as a chat channel.
What I should have said was it is one of the few channels you can use to communicate without blocking safety trafic
I think we all got the jist though, channel 6 is the VHF channel the club Members tend to communicate on. if we use the correct power I am sure the authorities will not chase us.
and as to watt a certain lymington skipper thinks, who gives a ####.
Charlie 
Guys, the general rule on ANY radio is a simple A B C..........Acuracy, Brevity......and Clarity, stick to these and you wont go far wrong, or get into too much trub with H M C G.
Rich
You're in luck, Martin (or otherwise). Stingray has a cb but I haven't used it as I thought nobody else had one. It came with the boat from Burnham; I think they use them for comms.
I'll give you a shout next time. It would be a useful addition for anybody else as it would give a lot more freedom and a lot more channels available.
Terry B.
Terry
I will start switching the thing on and monitor channel 11
Martin