Overview

The Garmin BlueChart g3 is an electronic chart of the Irish Sea that runs on compatible Garmin chartplotters and is available as either a preprogrammed microSD/SD card or a downloadable chart. Coverage spans the British coast from Port Ellen on the Isle of Islay to Falmouth and the Irish coast from Sheep Haven to Caherciveen, including key areas around the Isle of Man, Belfast, Dublin, Londonderry and the Isles of Scilly. This coverage is commonly labeled as VEU004R for BlueChart g3 Vision and HXEU004R for BlueChart g3.

Beyond the base chart detail, it includes planning tools such as Auto Guidance, which calculates a suggested route using the safe depth and overhead clearance you enter. Depth Range Shading supports up to 10 ranges, Shallow Water Shading lets you mark a user-set depth, and the chart includes up to 1-foot contours for reading bottom shape. In the g3 Vision version, additional layers can add satellite imagery overlays, aerial photography, and 3D perspectives such as FishEye and MarinerEye when your chartplotter supports them.

Key features

• Irish Sea coverage across UK and Ireland coasts and approaches, including Isle of Man, Belfast, Dublin, Londonderry, Isles of Scilly, and surrounding waters
• Auto Guidance route planning based on your entered safe depth and overhead clearance, with obstructions highlighted along the suggested path
• Depth Range Shading with up to 10 user-selected ranges to make target depth bands stand out
• Up to 1-foot contours for more detailed bottom definition in channels, harbors, and structure-focused fishing areas
• Shallow Water Shading at a user-defined depth to make shallow areas easier to spot at a glance
• BlueChart g3 Vision layers add satellite imagery overlays, aerial photos, and 3D viewing modes such as FishEye and MarinerEye where supported

Variants

This Irish Sea chart coverage is offered as both BlueChart g3 and BlueChart g3 Vision, and in two delivery formats.

The SD card format is a preprogrammed card that loads directly from the chartplotter card slot. The download format is installed to a microSD/SD card with Garmin Express for a registered, compatible device, with one chart per card.

• 010-C0763-00: BlueChart version BlueChart g3 Vision; format SD Card. This option adds the g3 Vision chart layers such as satellite imagery, aerial photography, and 3D views when your chartplotter supports those features.
• 010-D0398-00: BlueChart version BlueChart g3 Vision; format Download. This option delivers the g3 Vision chart as a download that you install to a microSD/SD card through Garmin Express for your compatible device.
• 010-C0763-20: BlueChart version BlueChart g3; format SD Card. This option provides the standard BlueChart g3 charting with Auto Guidance and shading tools on a preprogrammed card.
• 010-D0349-00: BlueChart version BlueChart g3; format Download. This option delivers the standard BlueChart g3 chart as a download that you install to a microSD/SD card through Garmin Express for your compatible device.

Coverage area

This chart focuses on the Irish Sea and nearby coasts, covering the British shoreline from Port Ellen on the Isle of Islay down to Falmouth, including the Isle of Man and the Isles of Scilly. On the Irish side it covers from Sheep Haven to Caherciveen, including Londonderry, The Storks, Belfast, and Dublin.

Compatibility and setup

Fit comes down to device support, not boat voltage, so it works the same on 12V or 24V systems as long as your Garmin plotter supports BlueChart g3 or BlueChart g3 Vision. For the SD card versions, your unit needs an available chart card slot. For the download versions, plan on using a computer with Garmin Express and a microSD/SD card for the install. Mapping format support varies by model and software generation, so it is worth confirming your chartplotter lists BlueChart g3 or BlueChart g3 Vision as a supported map type before purchasing.

Use on board

This is a good match for skippers who regularly cross the Irish Sea, run coastal passages between Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, or work the approaches and harbors around the Isle of Man and the Irish east coast. It also suits anglers who want to quickly highlight depth bands and bottom shape, since the contour detail and shading tools make it easier to spot structure on screen.

Care and handling

Treat the chart card like any other piece of electronics on board: keep the contacts clean, avoid leaving it where spray or condensation can sit on it, and store it in a dry case when it is not in the plotter.