GARMIN GPSMAP 76C

[Carl Noble]

I am thinking of getting the Garmin GPSMAP 76C. I like the idea of having a unit that can be used both on my Mac and in my truck while travelling. I have never seen one in action and am wondering how good the charting function is on them. There are many shallows that extend over a mile from shore on my lake and it would be great to be able to see when I am approching them. The screen looks a bit small but It would fit perfectly up on the pedestal next to my fish/depthfinder. I would like some advice from those on the list who have these units or ones similar.

Thanks Carl

[Tom Spohn]

I have used the Garmin 168 and 178C , and E-trex Vista, and the Magellan Sport Trak. The Magellan broke and since it was considerably less accurate than the Garmin units I chose to retire it without trying to repair it. I use the E-trex in my SUV and as a backup on the water, and while hiking. It has enough memory that I can load all the terrestrial and marine charts that I need without switching them out. For a dual purpose unit like the one you are considering, the amount of memory would be important. Also having used both the pre-programmed software on a chip and the software on a disk that you upload to the unit, I like the upload type the best, as I can upload software from multiple disks. Of course you can get a burner and make your own chips if you chose that type.

Of course accuracy depends not only on the unit, but also on the software. In this regard I believe the Garmin is in the top ranks although I am not always happy with what they charge for upgrades, and unlocks for new regions. Both my marine Garmins were internal antenna types and I never had a problem finding satellites, which was a pleasant surprise to me.

I considered a single unit I could switch back and forth, but decided on the e-trex and the 178C so I could have a back up while on the water.

[Terry]

I have the GPSMAP 76CS, just purchased it last summer. It is rather expensive especially when you need BlueCharts from two different regions not to mention Topo's and city streets. It holds a whopping 115 mgb's of memory. It has every feature imagineable including a color screen and works off two AA batteries, it is first class in every way except for that small display. I now have a notebook with the Bluecharts installed and will be plugging my GPS into it for a larger display. I like the portability of it, but I keep it clipped either on my person or on the pedestal with a carabiner, it can too easily be lost overboard, very expensive loss. It is a very nice unit, once purchased you won't regret it, just be carefull with it.

[Carl Noble]

I don't like the way they are marketing them either. You can get the unit for $350 but have to add another $290 to get the bluewater and streets charts. Terry did you get the marine mount for yours? If not how are you strapping it on your pedestal?

[Dan B]

I was looking at changing over from my Magellan Meridian color to this Garmin model due to the low accuracy of the underlying data Magellan uses. However, I loaded their Streets software so I can get street level turning directions when I use it in my car and I find they have much improved the accuracy. I also loaded their marine software - so with one unit I can use it on the boat and in the car.

[Terry]

I haven't bought the mount yet, not sure where I can mount it given the limited space on the pedestal pod, so I just keep it clipped to my person for now. I will likely purchase an external antanna and connect to a notebook for a larger screen which I may mount near the companionway.

I don't care for the marketing of BlueCharts either, I bought it thinking I was getting all the charts listed for the Americas, but much to my surprise I could only unlock one region, I had to purchase a second unlock code to get another region. I live in the Pacific Nortwest and need two regions to cover the area from Puget sound Seattle to the Queen Charlottes.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I'm very happy I went the generic route. I'm not tied to a single brand and limited by the choices they make for charts and functions. I use standard bit map SoftCharts on my Pocket PC. There are great apps for both the PPC and the Palm. If you happen to own one of these you already have the computer brain and a nice color screen that beats those of the small handheld GPS's. You also can get apps for logs, tides, and other stuff making the device even more useful. Plus when a new app comes out with a better idea it's easy to switch just the app and still use all the same charts. Once you buy 'bluechart' you are stuck with Garmin.

I plug it into the old Lowrance GPS the boat came with and it also works equally well with my cheap E-Trex. Newer units with Bluetooth can use the wireless Bluetooth GPS's. There are a number of USB GPS's out now for under $100. You can also use any of the Compact Flash or Secure Digital card GPS's.

I keep the PPC dry and protected in a Otter Case which still keeps the touch screen useable.

In the car I use it with maps sent from Streets and Trips which gives you the whole US on you PC and PPC for $29.

You can buy US charts cheap at www.marineplanner.com . You can get them one at a time or in groups or regions. I was able to buy an entire set of large and small scale charts for Puget Sound and the San Juans for $80. (Getting the Canadian region P1 for this summers trip did however cost $199. Canada see's their charts as a profit center.)

I've used both Memory Map and Ozi Explorer software. Fugawi is also a good choice particularly for the palm. Currently I'm using Ozi because it has the best support for my old Lowrance GPS. It makes it easy to upload waypoints and routes for my autopilot to follow.

Here's my current setup


The way I did it before the otter case

[waternwaves]

Duane...
That can't be a good location to mount a compass next to those DC pwer cables and instruments........

Do you keep a second one on board??

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Actually it works quite well there. All the power cables come out the other side or the pedestal. The ones you see are mainly GPS signal cables. It's as good as the port side aft cabin wall where I see many built in compasses mounted, right behind the electrical panel. It is also a hand held compass that can just be lifted out of it's bracket. It's bearings match quite nicely with the ones on my GPS all around the compass rose.

To be honest it's really window dressing. I'm pretty much an electronic chart guy. I had it so I felt I had to display it somewhere. I never intentionally use the compass for navigation and if I was in a situation where I had to all the power and electronic devices would be out so there would be no problems. I have a 4 circuit switch panel low on the starboard side of the pedestal that let's me shut off power to any of the devices if I need or have to.



I also have a hand bearing compass with neat 25 year illumination without any batteries. It's really cool, but I never use it either.

Perhaps some day I will drag them all out and teach my boys how to navigate by compass, but for now they are just extra backup stuff never really used. The same goes for all the paper charts I have on board that are never used.

I'm a completely spoiled gadet geek, I know how to use the paper and compass, did it that way for years, but these days why bother. The little picture of the boat on the screen is sooooo much easier.

Useful as the manual ways are I'm not one to get nostalgic about days gone by.

[Catigale]

I got the GPS 76 CS (the 'S' includes barometric sensor and compass sensor) for my primary GPS for Catigale...if you troll ebay you can get these at some savings over the standard outlets.

I cant comment on the charts as I dont use them on the Hudson.

I like all the trip features which makes log keeping snap.
The display is easy to read in all conditions, even direct sunlight.
I have an older Garmin XL45 which is my backup GPS, below decks.
Both can be plugged in and interfaced to my DSC VHF if I am offshore from either the nav station (seat behind galley on the ) or from the pedestal mount.

I Have the mount on top of the pedestal with the angle adjustable for either sitting or standing.

I will probably run a USB cable from the Pedestal so I can interface to a laptop down below too.

Battery life is really good - I use Radio Shack NiMH and run 10 hours fully charged.

Catigale

[Terry]

Citigale wrote:

Battery life is really good - I use Radio Shack NiMH and run 10 hours fully charged.

10 Hours fully charged!! Wow!
I am lucky to get 4 hours from Energizer e titaniums on the same unit, I'll be making a trip to my local RadioShack pronto.

[Carl Noble]

Duane... That's a real nice setup you have. I'm to "Technically Challenged" to do a set up like that so I have to keep things as simple as possible. I think I'll get the Garmin unit and then get the charts this spring.

[norbert]

i have been on the berlin boat fair today (a small local event) and had a look on the garmin units. many handheld and small fixed mount units were displayed on a stand directly under a big spotlight. although this spotlight cannot be compared with direct sunlight, i found that the charts on the map76c and the slightly larger 176c were pretty difficult to read. totally different is the 172c with its larger and brighter screen. i did not see the new 276c which is announced to have a better display. but i think that the 4.5 screen of the 172c is the minimum for serious navigation.

[Moe]

Norbert, I have played with a 276C outdoors, and its screen is good... orders of magnitude better than the 176C it replaced. The 276C uses the same screen technology, if not size, as the 172C, which is the exact same screen as my 178C. IMHO, set at full brightness, I rate these good (a bit better than just acceptable), but not great, in full sunlight. Under a bimini, you don't have to use full brightness.

I agree the 172/178 is the minimum I'd be able to use, especially in choppy water. I talked a friend out of a handheld into a 276C, and he's really grateful I did now that he has it.
--
Moe

[Rusty]

What's the consensus on antennae? Internal or external? Not all that much difference in price at WM ($20).

Rusty