Overview

The Garmin BlueChart g3 Vision HD VUS012R is a coastal electronic chart covering the U.S. Gulf Coast from Bradenton, Florida through New Orleans, Louisiana, including Apalachicola, Mobile, the Mississippi Delta, the Chandeleur Islands, and a portion of Timbalier Bay, plus Lake Pontchartrain.

It adds map detail and presentation tools that matter when you are threading marsh channels, setting up a coastal run, or working structure nearshore, including up to 1-foot contours and Depth Range Shading with up to 10 depth ranges. You also get High-resolution Relief Shading, Shallow Water Shading, satellite imagery for ports and landmarks, and 3D MarinerEye and FishEye views for extra perspective.

Key features

• VUS012R coverage: Bradenton, FL to New Orleans, LA, including Apalachicola, Mobile, the Mississippi Delta, Chandeleur Islands, a portion of Timbalier Bay, and Lake Pontchartrain
• Integrated Garmin and Navionics chart content for up-to-date coastal detail
• Auto Guidance route suggestions using your entered depth and overhead clearance values (planning aid)
• Up to 1-foot contours for tighter bottom detail in bays, canals, and marinas
• Depth Range Shading with up to 10 depth ranges, plus Shallow Water Shading for quick risk areas
• High-resolution Relief Shading to make channels, shelves, and bottom changes easier to read at a glance
• High-resolution satellite imagery for ports, marinas, bridges, and navigation landmarks
• 3D MarinerEye and FishEye views for added perspective above and below the waterline

Variants

This chart is offered in more than one format so you can match how you want to receive and install it.

The coverage area and chart content stay tied to VUS012R; what changes is whether you get a pre-programmed card or a download that you install to a card.

• 010-C0713-00: Format microSD/SD. A pre-programmed chart card that you insert into a compatible chartplotter for access to the chart data.
• 010-D0472-00: Format Download. Installed using Garmin Express to a microSD/SD card, and unlocked to the chartplotter registered to your Garmin account.

Compatibility and fit

Confirm your Garmin chartplotter supports BlueChart g3 Vision and has an available microSD/SD card slot before ordering. If your boat has more than one Garmin display on a Garmin Marine Network, a single mapping card can be shared across compatible networked chartplotters when the card is installed in the correct unit.

Installation and updates

For the microSD/SD version, power down, insert the card in the chartplotter, then boot up and select the chart layer as needed. For the download version, plan on using Garmin Express on a computer to write the chart to a microSD/SD card; dedicate that card to this region since only one chart can be installed per card.

NOAA raster cartography is available as a free downloadable feature through the ActiveCaptain app. Chart updates are handled through Garmin Express when updates are available, so it is worth keeping your chartplotter registered and your software current.

Use on board

This coverage makes sense for Gulf Coast cruising and fishing between Florida’s west coast and southeast Louisiana, including long stretches of coastal waterway, bays, and delta approaches where contour detail and shading help with quick decisions. It is also a solid fit for skippers who want chart visuals that support day-to-day piloting, plus satellite imagery and 3D views for situational context around ports and landmarks.