Garmin GPSMAP76CSx Critique

by John W
(Long Island NY)

Owning and using both a Garmin GPS72 and GPSMAP76 has been a pleasure. But when I upgraded to a GPSMAP76CSx, I found myself totally disappointed.

The unit in spite of the advanced features in it fails for me on the basic usage and that is accurate navigation between waypoints on the Map Page. I demand in the Great South Bay of Long Island NY which is splattered with Shoals, Bars and many unlighted Buoys a way to navigate sometimes at speed at night or in a fog with greater precision than needed in open ocean and bays without those problems.

In Garmin's lineup from GPS72, GPS76, GPSMAP76 and GPSMAP76S they have a feature which everyone may not be aware of, if it was never turned on in the "Map Setup Page" under "Other" called "Heading Line". It is a straight line which extends out from the small arrow head cursor on the Map Page much like using a ruler on a chart which allows a much more precise alignment with your next distant waypoint. For whatever reason , Garmin took this great feature out of their more advanced and expensive models.

And their Reps have no answer why either. Without that line, as far as I'm concerned, it's like trying to aim at a 3" bullseye with a rifle from 100 yards away and find that someone has removed the front sight. Can you shoot towards it? Yes. Will will you be accurate? No.

So if you were navigating a narrow passage with shoals and unlighted cans along the sides you may drift from side to side more than you would like to.

Also for what ever reason, in their new GPS72H which has a more sensitive receiver yet in spite of being primarily used for Marine usage they eliminated the Tidal Charts Page. WHY? WHY? WHY?

So I wasted $350 for my GPSMAP76CSx and $150 for the SD card with Maps because it, without that "Heading Line", was a total waste and I'm giving it to my son to play with on the boat and in the car and have gone back to my GPS72.

Maybe you can get answers from Garmin that I can't get. And why can't they get a Software Upgrade to give these units that line? And I can only assume that even their 78s probably don't have it either.