Garmin GPSMAP® 8624

🐟 Flagship 24" GPSMAP 8000-series premium marine chartplotter chartplotter-only variant. Top of Garmin's line. Priced at $12,299.

Garmin GPSMAP 8624 24" Flagship Marine Chartplotter

The Garmin GPSMAP 8624 is part of Garmin's flagship 8000-series marine chartplotter line, the top tier of Garmin's consumer marine electronics. Priced at $12,299. The 24" 8624 is the largest Garmin marine display. Flagship-of-the-flagship territory. Common on luxury yachts, superyachts, and commercial marine vessels where the helm doubles as an operations center. Non-sonar at the flagship tier is extremely common, most 8000-series rigs have dedicated sonar on one Xsv unit (or a CV70/700 sonar module) and this unit handles navigation, radar, cameras, autopilot, and secondary displays. Yacht and superyacht installations routinely have 3-6 networked 8000-series displays with only one or two handling sonar.

Understanding the model number: "86" = 8000-series flagship tier. "24" = display size (10, 12, 16, 17, or 24 inch). "Xsv" (if present) = CHIRP + ClearVü + SideVü sonar support. So "8612Xsv" = 12" flagship with sonar. "8624" = 24" flagship, chartplotter-only (no sonar, at this display size, dedicated sonar modules handle the sonar role).

Flagship tier, what makes the 8000-series different: Above the GPSMAP 1500/1600 series (G-3C), the 8000-series has (1) a significantly faster processor for smoother multi-split-screen rendering with radar/sonar/camera/chart all simultaneous, (2) premium sportfisher/yacht-grade build quality with reinforced mounting and marine-grade connectors, (3) more sophisticated Marine Network bandwidth for supporting 6+ networked displays without performance degradation, (4) integrated with Garmin's top-tier radar (GMR Fantom 24xHD3 dome and open-array), autopilot (Reactor 40 Steer-by-Wire), and camera (GC 100/200 HD marine cameras) ecosystems, (5) premium cartography included with BlueChart g3 Vision Coastal Charts pre-loaded as part of the flagship package.

Where this fits in the Garmin chartplotter line: The 8000-series is Garmin's premier marine chartplotter tier. Below it: the GPSMAP 1500/1600 series ($4,500-$5,100) for mid-premium 15"/16" applications. Also below: the GPSMAP 1000/1200 series ($1,500-$3,000) for 10"/12" mainstream marine. Above it: nothing in the ECHOMAP or GPSMAP line, the 8624 at $12,300 is the largest Garmin marine display available. For rigs that need more than this tier, you're looking at commercial marine displays outside the Garmin consumer line (Furuno NavNet, Simrad NSO Evo3, Raymarine gS series).

Who typically buys the 8000-series: luxury yacht operators (70+ ft), commercial fishing vessels, superyacht installations, and professional marine operations where display real estate and flagship build matter most. Installations are done by marine electronics specialists, usually as part of a complete helm refit or new-build rig specification. Budget $3,000-$8,000 for professional installation of an 8000-series rig, depending on complexity, number of displays, and integration with radar/autopilot/camera systems.

Key Features

• ✅ 24" Flagship Ultra-Bright IPS Touchscreen, premium edge-to-edge glass, marine-rated sunlight-readable
• ✅ Flagship Processor, noticeably faster than GPSMAP 1500/1600 tier for multi-split-screen rendering
• ✅ BlueChart g3 Vision Coastal Charts Pre-Loaded, premium cartography included at this tier
• ❌ No Built-In Sonar, chartplotter-only variant. Typical on flagship multi-display rigs where a separate Xsv unit or dedicated sonar module handles sonar
• ✅ Full Garmin Marine Network (Ethernet), flagship bandwidth, supports 6+ networked displays without performance degradation
• ✅ NMEA 2000 + NMEA 0183 + J1939, engines, fuel, tanks, sensors, commercial instruments
• ✅ Wi-Fi + ActiveCaptain App, wireless updates, waypoint sharing, smart notifications
• ✅ Premium Cartography Support, BlueChart g3, BlueChart g3 Vision, Navionics Vision+ Premium, LakeMaster VX, CoastMaster Premium, C-MAP Genesis Edge, C-MAP 4D
• ✅ Dual microSD Card Slots, expand mapping across multiple regions
• ✅ Panoptix Compatible, PS22, PS31 direct; LVS32/LVS34 LiveScope via GLS 10 black box
• ✅ Reactor Autopilot Compatible, integrated autopilot control including Reactor 40 Steer-by-Wire
• ✅ Premium Thru-Hull Transducer Support, Airmar B265LH/LM, R509LH/LM/HM, P66, P79 series, and all Garmin GT-series
• ✅ GC 100/200 HD Camera Integration, multi-camera networking (bow, stern, engine room, deck)
• ✅ GMR Fantom 24xHD3 Radar Integration, flagship radar compatibility (dome and open-array)
• ✅ Flush-Mount Standard, designed for premium sportfisher/yacht helm flush integration
• ✅ J1939 Diesel Engine Support, commercial and large marine diesel monitoring

Who This Is For

This flagship unit is best for luxury yacht operators (70+ ft), commercial fishing vessels, superyacht installations, and professional marine operations where display real estate and flagship build matter most, particularly yacht operators, commercial marine, and large sportfisher rigs where dedicated sonar is on another unit. Typically primary helm on 70+ ft yachts, superyachts, and commercial vessels.

Choose This If...

• You're running a 70+ ft yacht or commercial vessel, the 8000-series is specifically designed for this class of boat.
• You need flagship processor performance, if you're running 6+ networked displays with radar + sonar + cameras + chart all simultaneously, the flagship processor is noticeably better than GPSMAP 1500/1600 tier.
• You want premium build quality and marine-grade connectors, the 8000-series is built for yacht and sportfisher installations that will be in service for 10+ years.
• You run a multi-display flagship rig with dedicated sonar on another unit, non-sonar saves on the purchase and avoids unnecessary sonar hardware when another display handles it.
• You're building a new rig from scratch, starting with an 8000-series head unit is common for new-build sportfishers and yachts where the helm electronics budget is in the $15,000-$50,000+ range.
• Your budget is $12,299, flagship tier. If your budget is lower and your boat is smaller, the GPSMAP 1500/1600 series at $4,500-$5,100 is typically a better match.

Specifications

• Display: 24" flagship ultra-bright IPS touchscreen, edge-to-edge glass
• Head Unit Dimensions: 23.5" W x 14.8" H x 3.2" D
• Head Unit Weight: 28.3 lbs
• Power: 12V / 24V DC (dual-voltage, flagship tier standard)
• Connectors: NMEA 2000, NMEA 0183, J1939, Garmin Marine Network (Ethernet), Wi-Fi, dual microSD slots, video inputs
• Sonar: NOT supported. No sonar port. Pair with networked sonar source (Xsv variant, GSD sonar module, or GPSMAP 8000 Xsv peer unit).
• Cartography: BlueChart g3 Vision Coastal Charts pre-loaded + dual microSD expansion
• Mounting: Flush-mount (standard at this tier), bracket mount available
• Waterproof rating: IPX7
• SKU: 010-01512-50

Compatibility Reference

The GPSMAP 8624 integrates with the full Garmin flagship marine ecosystem:

• Transducers: Not applicable, non-sonar unit (pair with networked sonar: Xsv peer unit, GSD 25/26 sonar module, or CV70/700 commercial sonar)
• Live Sonar: LiveScope Plus / XR / Original (via GLS 10 black box), Panoptix PS22/PS31 direct connection
• Radar: GMR Fantom series (18/24/54/124), GMR Fantom 24xHD3 open-array (flagship radar), GMR xHD series, full integration with the flagship-tier bandwidth
• Autopilot: Garmin Reactor series, full integration including Reactor 40 Steer-by-Wire for hydraulic/electronic steering systems
• Cameras: GC 100/200 HD marine cameras, multi-camera networking (bow, stern, engine room, deck, bridge cam)
• Engine Integration: J1939 diesel engine support, NMEA 2000 gas engine integration, Yamaha Command Link, Mercury SmartCraft
• Trolling Motors: Garmin Force, Force Pro, Force Kraken (uncommon at this boat tier, more typical for bay boats and inshore-offshore hybrids)
• Networking: NMEA 2000, NMEA 0183, J1939 commercial, Garmin Marine Network (Ethernet with flagship bandwidth), Wi-Fi, multi-display MFD networking for 6+ units
• Cartography: BlueChart g3 Vision (pre-loaded), BlueChart g3, Navionics+, Navionics Vision+ Premium, LakeMaster VX, CoastMaster Premium, C-MAP Genesis Edge, C-MAP 4D
• Apps: ActiveCaptain, Garmin Quatix marine smartwatches

Warranty

Covered by Garmin's 1-year limited warranty. Installations at the 8000-series flagship tier are universally done by marine electronics specialists, the networking, cable routing, thru-hull transducer placement, radar/autopilot/camera integration, and engine data integration require experienced hands. Carolina Sportsman Outfitters can help coordinate with qualified installers in the Carolinas for sportfisher and yacht installations. Call 252-431-6001 for pre-purchase rig spec, installer referrals, or post-purchase setup guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the 8000-series different from the GPSMAP 1500/1600 series?

The 8000-series has a significantly faster processor, more Marine Network bandwidth for 6+ networked displays, premium sportfisher/yacht-grade build quality, and flagship-tier radar/autopilot/camera integration. The 1500/1600 series is mid-premium, excellent for 30-40 ft sportfishers, but the 8000-series is built for 40+ ft sportfishers, luxury yachts, and commercial marine. Price delta: the 8616 ($5,600) vs 1643 ($4,900) is $700 for the same screen size, which buys flagship processor, premium build, and flagship network bandwidth.

What's the difference between 8616 and 8616Xsv?

The 8616 is chartplotter-only (no built-in sonar). The 8616Xsv includes CHIRP + ClearVü + SideVü sonar support. $700 price difference buys the sonar capability. Choose Xsv if this is your single display or sonar-primary display; choose non-sonar if another Xsv unit or dedicated sonar module handles sonar on a multi-display rig.

What transducers work with the 8000-series?

At this tier, almost always premium thru-hull. Popular choices: Airmar R509LH/LM/HM (premium deep-water CHIRP, $2,500-$5,000), Airmar B265LH/LM (solid offshore CHIRP, $1,200-$2,000), Airmar P66 bronze ($500-$800 for inshore/nearshore), Garmin GT52HW-THF (Garmin thru-hull, $400-$700). For LiveScope, add LVS32 or LVS34 + GLS 10. Call us at 252-431-6001 for hull-specific transducer selection, at this tier, transducer choice is a meaningful decision worth getting right.

Is this used on yachts?

Yes, extensively. 8000-series is common on luxury yachts (45-100+ ft), superyachts, and the top tier of sportfisher production (Viking, Hatteras, Bertram, Boston Whaler Conquest, Regulator, etc.). Multi-display 8000-series helms with 2-4 networked units at the primary helm, flybridge, and cockpit are a standard yacht configuration.

Is this used in commercial marine?

Yes. 8000-series is found on commercial fishing vessels, crew boats, harbor pilots, and small commercial operations where Garmin's consumer flagship tier meets commercial needs at a more accessible price than full commercial marine electronics (Furuno NavNet, Simrad NSO Evo3, Raymarine gS commercial). J1939 engine integration is common.

Is this used in top-tier tournaments?

Yes. Standard at the helm of 45+ ft sportfishers competing in IGFA billfish tournaments, Mid-Atlantic top circuits (White Marlin Open, MidAtlantic $500,000), Gulf top circuits (Blue Marlin Grand Championship, Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic), and the Bahamas billfish circuit. Multi-display helms with the 8616/8617/8624 as primary and 8612 as secondary is a typical top-tier tournament configuration.

Do I need professional installation?

Yes, universally. The 8000-series is installed as part of full helm refits or new-build rigs. Budget $3,000-$8,000 for professional installation depending on number of displays, radar/autopilot/camera integration, and engine integration complexity. On yachts with 4+ displays and full integration, installation can exceed $15,000.

Can I DIY install?

Technically possible but not recommended. The 8000-series installations typically involve multi-display networking, thru-hull transducer placement (requires haul-out and drilling), flush-mount dashboard integration, radar antenna placement and cable routing, autopilot integration with steering systems, and engine J1939/SmartCraft data integration. Marine electronics installers have the experience to get this right the first time, DIY mistakes at this tier are expensive to fix.

Does it include pre-loaded maps?

Yes. BlueChart g3 Vision Coastal Charts are pre-loaded, premium cartography included as part of the flagship package. Most buyers also add region-specific LakeMaster VX or CoastMaster Premium chips via microSD for expanded coverage.

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Carolina Sportsman Outfitters has been outfitting anglers with Garmin marine electronics since 2015. For 8000-series flagship installations, we work with customers on full rig specification, head units, thru-hull transducers, radar, autopilot, camera systems, engine integration, and multi-display networking. Call 252-431-6001 for pre-purchase rig planning or installer referrals.