Garmin GPSMap 76CS 115 MB Handheld Marine GPS with 256-Color TFT Display

Also available: Garmin GPSmap 76CSx Marine GPS
Editorial Review
Garmin's GPSMAP 76CS is a state-of-the-art handheld marine GPS unit with a vivid, sunlight-readable color display, sizeable internal memory, and fast USB connectivity. Central to the device is its high-resolution, highly reflective, 256-color TFT display and LED backlight, implemented so you can navigate in either broad daylight or complete darkness, as your schedule dictates. The unit retains the overall sleek and easy-to-use design of earlier generations of the GPSMap 76 family, including its rugged, buoyant, waterproof housing.

The compact unit also boasts a 13 MB Americas marine basemap that includes tide data. In addition, an impressive 115 MB of internal memory lets you load optional MapSource BlueChart or "Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots" marine cartography. (The award-winning BlueChart features depth contours, inter-tidal zones, wrecks, and navaids, while Recreational Lakes includes fishing areas, boat ramps, marinas, and hazards for more than 1,000 popular U.S. and Canadian lakes.)

You can rely on the 76CS when you're navigating the highways and byways in your rudderless vehicle, too, thanks to a built-in, auto-routing basemap of major interstates and highways. When loaded with optional MapSource City Select detailed street cartography, the GPS provides automatic route calculation to millions of addresses or points of interest, complete with turn-by-turn directions and tone alerts. The unit is also compatible with MapSource U.S. Topo and 24K Topo for off-road excursions.

Loading charts or maps is faster than it was with earlier-generation devices, too, thanks to the 76CS's USB interface. Navigation instructions can be shared with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots using NMEA protocols through a dedicated serial port.

The 76CS also includes an electronic compass--which displays accurate headings even while standing still--and a barometric altimeter with an elevation computer that provides current elevation, ascent/descent rate, minimum/maximum elevation, total ascent/descent, and average/maximum ascent/descent rate.

Other features include a built-in quad helix antenna with remote antenna capability; 1,000 user waypoints with name and graphic symbols; 50 reversible routes; a 10,000-point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks (so you can retrace your path in both directions); audible alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off-course, proximity waypoint and clock; and a trip computer that provides, among other things, an odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, and max speed.

Battery life using 2 AA alkaline batteries is rated at 20 hours typical use. The 76CS is waterproof to IEC 60529 IPX-7 standards (submersible to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes).

What's in the Box
GPSMAP 76CS, a basemap (Americas Autoroute), a Marine Point database, a MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager CD-ROM, a PC/USB cable, a lanyard, a user's manual, and a quick-start guide.