Garmin 72 versus Garmin 76???

[Jim]

Am in the process of upgrading my handheld GPS to include, among other things, audible alarms for anchor drag. Just had a look at Garmin.com where you can very easily compare their products with one another. The only difference I see between the Garmin 72 and 76 is that the 76 can take an external antennae and the 76 has a somewhat better screen resolution (pixel count), yet there's about a 30% price premium for the 76??? Am I missing something, or is that all the difference in terms of features and functionality between these two models??? Any feedback on these two devices, or other comments welcome...Thanks,JimPS Anyone want to buy "Certified" a previously owned, low mileage Garmin 12? I put it through my 120 point check list and it works fine!!

 

[Tom Eckes]

I chose the 76 Map "S"

My unit will arrive July 3rd and I ordered the Garmin BlueChart CD to upload chart chart for the California coast. I paid $335 for the unit and I decided that it is well worth the difference in the price. The 76 will not support the MapSource CD upload. The MAP 76S has a built in electronic compass, not available on the 76, and it has a barometric altimeter, also not available on the 76. It has built in Highway maps not available on the 76.Hope that helps.

 

[Joe]

GPS 76 vx 72

I have the 76 and I really like it. West and Boat US are both selling it now for $199, That's twenty bucks off what I paid for mine. Regarding differences between the 78 and 72: The 76 has higher resolution and an external antenna connection, as you noted. The main difference, though, is the re-writable memory of the 76, allowing you to download additional databases through your computer that are available on the MapSource CD- Points of Interest. This CD also has software that allows you to create navigational routes and waypoints on the computer and download them into the GPS (rather than entering them by hand), This is way easier, and more fun, than trying to create them on the handheld unit. Also, you can upload points and routes you created on the GPS (such as good fishing spots or uncharted hazards) to your computer for back-up. The maps on the CD are not transferable to the GPS. The higher resolution screen allows for easier reading, and more data on the small screen. I think it's worth the extra bucks. The 72, on the other hand, has city and navaid databases Tom's information is incorrect in this regard. He's talking about the MAP76, the hanclheld chartplotter. Not the GPS. ( By the way, West and Boat,are selling that item for $299 now, instead of 349.)

 

[Al]

The 76s has a barometer...and it works!

When I was looking for a gps I was looking for something I could use in case of a real emergency (i.e. boat sinking). The 76s has a barometer, compass, tide chart, basic maps, etc. and it was a no brainer. Additionally, I had been looking for a separate barometer to watch the weather - a couple of hundred bucks for a good one - and the 76s fill that bill. We are very happy with the decision.

 

[Jim]

Thank you guys for your input...

OK...so, maybe I will rethink this...Thanks much for your valuable inputs...Fair Winds,Jim

 

[Stu Jackson]

GPSs

JimKeep thinking. I have an old Magellan bottom of the line that has NO database, no maps, no uploads, etc. And I love it because it's easy to use, and has a GO TO button. Without the instruction manual I can figure it out.A friend of mine who sails with me regularly, recently bought a Garmin 76 (NOT map). We both have trouble working it easily, because it seems that you have to go through four menus to get it to go to a waypoint. Maybe it's just me and my simple Magellan, but I have trouble using the Garmin, and so does its owner. Just a thought.It does (the 76) have the ability to upload and download all sorts of information from your computer. Unfortunately, unless you have your computer on board, it's not very helpful. For instance, in analyzing one of our races, we didn't get the information until the next day, which wasn't very helpful for the second race the previous day! If you need two things to perform one important function, why not get the function in the GPS itself?Finally, the 76 (without mapping) has all these "handy" built in navigation points.We've found that they are more confusing than helpful, because without a map you can't tell what they are and spend a lot of time pouring over charts trying to figure out what they represent.Either get a GPS with NOTHING in it, so YOU can control what you see, or buy one with a full and complete mapping capability.For instance, we try to set up racecourse marks, which, here, use a lot of fixed buoys. Even with the variable scale on the screen, we have a great deal of difficulty getting the right marker, so we put in our own, and it gets overlaid and/or mixed in with the "existing" handy, but now useless, built in ones. I know, there's probably some way to turn them off, but we haven't gotten that far yet (at least he hasn't, I still use my Magellan and can get a fix on our next mark about a minute before he can fiddle with the Garmin).I'm not knocking Garmin, they're very good, sophisticated machines.Either go super simple, or get mapping, in between just doesn't seem to work easily, at least for me.Stu

 

[Chuck Wayne]

gpsmap76s price

Tom,where did you find it for that price???please share your secret!

 

[Joe]

I partially agree with Stu....

...in that the older, simpler models were much easier and quicker for the limited tasks we used them for. The 76 offers much more information in your hand than the 12 or 48. But accessing it seems to take one extra step than the older ones. GoTo is a good example. Even though I was a bit confused by the changed set up of the 76 and somewhat reluctant to learn a new set of commands, I have found the device to offer so much more than the old that I know I will eventually get used to it. The VMG feature is especially cool. I rarely use the"map" screen. if I did I'd get the chartplotter model, but if I'm going to get a chartplotter, I will spend another $50 and get a fixed mount like the 162.It's the superior data displays that I like. The presentation is far superior.

 

[Ed Ruiz]

Have the 76S for about a year.

I bought it on ebay for about $340. (I also bought the BlueChart CD on ebay for about 1/2 the retail price.) The 76S is loaded with more features than one would expect for a unit so small and light (and it floats). ;^)I already have Garmin's Topo maps and Road maps. Besides using it for navigation on the water and on roads, I also use it for mountaineering (the barometer can be used to determine elevation). Plus it can hold 25MB of data, which is the entire Chesapeake, the nearby counties roads, and the entire Shenandoah State Park Topo data.~ Happy sails to you ~