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Garmin GPSMAP 78sc Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 544 ratings

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About this item

  • Marine-friendly handheld with high-sensitivity GPS receiver and 2.6-inch color TFT display
  • Perfect for boating/watersports--waterproof to IPX7 standards; floats in water
  • Built-in BlueChart g2 U.S./Bahamas coastal charts with shorelines, depth contours, navaids, harbors, marinas, and more
  • Built-in 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass and barometric altimeter for heading/altitude/weather
  • Share your waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches wirelessly with other compatible device user
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Garmin GPSMAP 78sc Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter
Garmin GPSMAP 78sc Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter
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Price-11% $267.09
List:$299.99
$599.99-10% $349.99
New Price:$389.99
$9.99-9% $145.80
List:$159.99
Delivery
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27
Customer Ratings
Accuracy
4.1
5.0
4.6
4.7
User interface
3.6
4.2
3.5
4.5
Battery life
4.2
4.6
4.8
Touch Screen
3.0
3.3
4.4
Sold By
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Tech-Boutique
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
resolution
160 x 240
160 x 240
128 x 160
mounting type
found in image, Wrist Mount
Wrist Mount
Wrist Mount
found in image, Wrist Mount
batteries included
battery average life
20 hours
19 hours
165 hours
20 hours
18 hours

Product Description

Featuring a bright 2.6-Inch LCD color display with built-in basemap and high-sensitivity GPS receiver, the GPSMAP 78 series takes recreational navigation to a whole new level. All three models are waterproof, and include a built-in microSD card slot for loading additional maps and a dedicated MOB (man over board) button.


From the manufacturer

Garmin GPSMAP 78sc Handheld GPS

For boaters and watersports enthusiasts who want to run with the best, the rugged GPSMAP 78sc includes preloaded U.S. coastal charts and features a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter, crisp color mapping, a high-sensitivity receiver, new molded rubber side grips, plus a microSD card slot for loading additional maps. And it floats!

Explore Coastal Waters

GPSMAP 78sc comes with built-in BlueChart g2 coastal charts and a worldwide basemap with imagery perfect for all your outdoor pursuits. Map detail includes shorelines, depth contours, navaids, harbors, marinas and more for the U.S. and Bahamas. And, like the rest of the 78-series, 78sc is water resistant and even floats in water.

Share Wirelessly

With GPSMAP 78sc you can share your waypoints, tracks, routes and geocaches wirelessly with other compatible device users. Now you can send the location of your favorite fishing spot to a friend to find. Sharing data is easy. Just press “send” to transfer your information to similar units.

Get Your Bearings

GPSMAP 78sc has a built-in 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, which shows your heading even when you’re standing still, without holding it level. Its barometric altimeter tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude, and you can even use it to plot barometric pressure over time, which can help you keep an eye on changing weather conditions.

Keep Your Fix

With its high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver and HotFix satellite prediction, GPSMAP 78sc locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons. The advantage is clear — whether you’re in deep woods or just near tall buildings and trees, you can count on GPSMAP 78sc to help you find your way when you need it the most.

Add Maps

Adding more maps is easy with our wide array of detailed marine, topographic and road maps, available on microSD card. Conveniently plug in BlueChart g2 preloaded cards for a great day on the water or City Navigator NT map data for turn-by-turn routing on roads (see maps tab for compatible maps). The card slot is located inside the water resistant battery compartment, so you don't have to worry about getting it wet. GPSMAP 78sc also supports BirdsEye Satellite Imagery (subscription required), that lets you download satellite images to your device and integrate them with your maps. In addition, the 78sc is compatible with Custom Maps, free software that transforms paper and electronic maps into downloadable maps for your device.

Get Connected

You've been busy exploring and now you want to store and analyze your activities. With a simple connection to your computer and to the Internet, you can get a detailed analysis of your activities and send tracks to your outdoor device using Garmin Connect. This one-stop site offers an activity table and allows you to view your activities on a map using Google Earth.

What's in the box

  • GPSMAP 78sc
  • Wrist strap
  • USB cable
  • Manual
  • Looking for specific info?

    Product guides and documents

    Product information

    Warranty & Support

    Product Warranty: For warranty information about this product, please click here. [PDF ]

    Feedback

    Garmin

    Garmin GPSMAP 78sc Waterproof Marine GPS and Chartplotter


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    Customer reviews

    4.3 out of 5 stars
    4.3 out of 5
    544 global ratings

    Customers say

    Customers like the quality of the GPS, describing it as an excellent piece of equipment. They also like the accuracy. However, some customers have reported issues with the performance of the device, stating that it fails to work. Customers also disagree on screen, readability, maps, battery life, and waterproofness.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    80 customers mention72 positive8 negative

    Customers are satisfied with the quality of the GPS. They mention it's an excellent piece of equipment, very useful device, and works well. The hardware seems to be good, and all its features function accurately. Overall, customers find it to be a perfect gadget to have in any adventure.

    "...All its features function accurately and it wasn't too difficult to learn and use. After one trip out with it I am ready to trust it completely." Read more

    "This is a wonderful little device and I have used it extensively, including over a 47 day kayak trip from Anacortes WA to Petersburg AK...." Read more

    "Excellent piece of equipment. I use it for kayaking, and as a backup unit for offshore fishing...." Read more

    "...Unfortunately, this is not the case. While the hardware seems very good (bright display, quick satellite acquisition, etc.),..." Read more

    18 customers mention15 positive3 negative

    Customers like the accuracy of the navigation system. For example, they mention the charts are very accurate, the depth contours are more accurate, and the maps are detailed. Some appreciate the coastal chart info and the MOB feature. Overall, most are happy with the product's accuracy.

    "...The coastal chart info is also detailed and accurate.I honestly cannot think of anything I would do to improve this device...." Read more

    "...Amazing. Depth contours were more accurate than the others and when we had to navigate through shoal passages, I relied on this Garmin handhold,..." Read more

    "...this GPS works well; it "answers the mail." The maps seem to be accurate, but it is a disappointment compared to the earlier version...." Read more

    "...Never did. The device is accurate. Display is bright and battery life is good with Duracell's installed...." Read more

    57 customers mention30 positive27 negative

    Customers are mixed about the screen of the navigation system. Some mention that it has a great screen and maps, easy to navigate menus, and visuals are great. They also say that the color screen is good, and easy to view in direct sunlight. However, others say that it's hard to read because the screen is so small, and the text and information on the screen are small.

    "...One of the reasons the color screen is so good (and they don't mention it anywhere) is that the lense window is polarized...." Read more

    "...The screen may be a bit small if you are planning on using this for marine navigation, but for my needs it is fine." Read more

    "...Also small enough to hide in your bag or pocket when you are on someone else's boat fishing their 'secret spots' (shhhhh!)...." Read more

    "...; C -> A and starting the the navigation the unit did not flip to the next waypoint, once a waypoint is reached...." Read more

    48 customers mention23 positive25 negative

    Customers are mixed about the readability of the navigation system. Some mention the charts are easy to read, it has a great interface, and the display is easier to read in day and night. However, others say that the interface is difficult to navigate, difficult to find out how to use it, and complicated to learn.

    "...All its features function accurately and it wasn't too difficult to learn and use. After one trip out with it I am ready to trust it completely." Read more

    "...and yet after playing with the device for over an hour, I could not locate any menu item that would allow me to change the display...." Read more

    "...I can read the screen easily, even on sunny days...." Read more

    "...Unit is hard to read when the backlight is off. With the backlight on, the battery life is poor...." Read more

    26 customers mention10 positive16 negative

    Customers are mixed about the maps in the GPS. Some mention that they love the built-in maps, while others say that they cannot get any map detail if they zoom in below 8 nm.

    "...3. Unit OFTEN locked up while navigating a route. This would require popping the protective cover off, removing batteries and restarting...." Read more

    "...The built in map is sufficient for my purposes as I only need to rely on it for fishing purposes on Lake Erie which is part of the coastal maps..." Read more

    "...Also, it lacks many water based routing features. (It set a straight course from location to destination over land.)..." Read more

    "...-Very good battery life-Waterproof!-Love the maps. Have only used in the ocean -> Florida coastlineCons:..." Read more

    16 customers mention6 positive10 negative

    Customers are mixed about the waterproofness of the GPS. Some mention it works great in salt water, while others say it's not waterproof. The port covers are also prone to leaks.

    "...for USB and power ports are poorly designed and WILL leak salt water leading to corrosion. My other IPX 7 devices (camera, VHF radio, etc.)..." Read more

    "...It is everything I had hoped for...lightweight, waterproof, floats, and has great battery life. I am using standard batteries, not rechargeables...." Read more

    "...The new version is not as waterproof. I found moisture condensing in the battery compartment...." Read more

    "...As a waterproof handheld unit, I'm able to use it as a back up on my sailboat, as well as take with me in the dingy or when i'm out hiking...." Read more

    15 customers mention10 positive5 negative

    Customers are mixed about the battery life of the navigation system. Some mention that the display is bright and the battery performance was very much improved, while others say that with the backlight on, the battery is poor and popped out.

    "...Battery performance was very much improved and while following tracks it never locked up...." Read more

    "...With the backlight on, the battery life is poor...." Read more

    "...I had hoped for...lightweight, waterproof, floats, and has great battery life. I am using standard batteries, not rechargeables...." Read more

    "...Never did. The device is accurate. Display is bright and battery life is good with Duracell's installed...." Read more

    24 customers mention0 positive24 negative

    Customers are dissatisfied with the performance of the navigation system. They mention that it fails to work, has an internal flaw, and won't turn on at all. Some say that it's the most unreliable piece of electronics on the planet. Overall, customers are disappointed with the substandard performance and the inadequate design.

    "...It also sometimes shuts down when you press Enter using the sequence describe here...." Read more

    "...of these because of failures to work - some internal flaw where it won't open or freezes within months of getting a new unit...." Read more

    "...They are apparently turned on, if the screen comes up they are shipped. They are worthless.These units are NOT waterproof in any way...." Read more

    "...Tried everything, but kept getting the same error message...." Read more

    Learning to like it...
    4 Stars
    Learning to like it...
    First, this is a pretty good instrument, and the fact it doesn't have the latest and greatest techno-gadgetry incorporated doesn't bother me one wit. My biggest grumble is that the instructions are abysmal and seem to presume that most folks buying the 78sc will be stepping down from a full-feature chart platter rather than buying it as their primary instrument. The online/YouTube instructions aren't any better and seem to assume that folks are spending time in hiking boots rather than deck-shoes -- other than noting the included nautical charts, the writers seem largely ignorant of marine principles. Fortunately I've used a no-frills Garmin 72h with paper charts for sailing for over a decade (and trust it implicitly) and the conventions were similar if not identical. Where the 78sc won me over was running a shallow and twisting inlet on a cold, dark night (where I've previously run aground in a similar situation) and being able to confirm the various buoy lights off the included backlit chart -- for the solo, budget sailor that is pure gold. It picks up satellite signals very quickly and I haven't tested its waterproof abilities, but it seems almost as solidly built as my venerable 72h (which I ran alongside this one, since my initial confidence wasn't high). The trap door for the batteries feels rather clunky compared to the "lesser" 72h which has a solid screw down latch, but overall this is a comparatively sturdy mechanism -- I haven't thrown my paper charts away, however.
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    Top reviews from the United States

    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2011
    132 people found this helpful
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    Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2011
    27 people found this helpful
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    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2019
    37 people found this helpful
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    Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2015
    3 people found this helpful
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    Top reviews from other countries

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    pedronei cézar de souza
    5.0 out of 5 stars Marca
    Reviewed in Brazil on March 1, 2023
    Wandering Academic
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good handheld, happy with the device
    Reviewed in Canada on May 28, 2014
    12 people found this helpful
    Report
    Rajesh Krishnaswami
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very practical for Sailing, Initial learning curve with the ...
    Reviewed in Canada on July 19, 2017
    2 people found this helpful
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    A Modahl
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very satisfied
    Reviewed in Canada on October 19, 2019
    Amazon Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars A poor upgrade
    Reviewed in Canada on June 2, 2017
    5 people found this helpful
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