GMR Fantom 24
Best dome radar for boaters prioritizing advanced collision avoidance and situational awareness.
Enhance your marine navigation with the Garmin GMR Fantom 24, a 24-inch solid-state dome radar. Its advanced MotionScope technology uses the Doppler effect to clearly highlight moving targets, significantly improving safety by visualizing approaching or receding objects. This radar delivers high-resolution imaging with Pulse Compression for excellent target identification. Offering a wide detection range up to 48 nautical miles and 40 watts of power, it's a robust and reliable addition to your navigation suite, ensuring you see critical information on the water.
$2799.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
8
/ 176
#8 in Marine Radar
Price vs Category Average
+4%
Above average
Transmit Power
40
/ W
Who it's for
- Captains prioritizing safety and collision avoidance in busy waters
- Anglers and navigators needing precise target separation at all distances
- Sailors and small boat owners with limited power budgets
Who should skip it
- Offshore cruisers requiring long-range weather and target detection
- Budget-conscious boaters seeking an entry-level radar solution
- Owners of older marine electronics systems without Garmin compatibility
Performance breakdown
Target Detection
MotionScope technology makes identifying moving hazards intuitive and immediate.
Range Capability
Forty-eight nautical miles provides ample visibility for most coastal cruising needs.
Collision Avoidance
MARPA tracking and guard zones offer essential peace of mind offshore.
Imaging Clarity
Pulse compression delivers crisp target separation in complex marine environments.
Operational Versatility
Dual range support allows simultaneous monitoring of near and far targets.
Build Durability
IPX7 water rating ensures reliable performance in harsh, salt-heavy conditions.
Key Specs
Transmit Power
40W
Maximum Range
48 nm
Physical Dimensions
25.4" diameter, 9.8" high
Weight
21 lb (9.5 kg)
Water Rating
IPX7
Power Input
10-32 V DC
Beam Width
3.7° horizontal, 25° vertical
Rotation Speed
24/48 rpm (dual rotation)
Features
- MotionScope highlights moving targets
- High definition for excellent target separation
- MARPA target tracking for collision avoidance
- Guard zone alarm alerts you to nearby activity
- Dual range support for simultaneous views
- Echo Trails show target history
- Auto Bird Gain helps locate bird flocks
- No Transmit Zone protects electronics
What customers say
Mariners highly value the Garmin GMR Fantom 24 for its exceptional performance and safety enhancements. Users consistently praise the clarity delivered by the solid-state pulse compression technology, noting its effectiveness at both close range and long distances. The MotionScope feature is a standout, instantly highlighting moving targets to significantly boost situational awareness, especially in poor conditions. Integration with Garmin displays is seamless and intuitive. While the initial cost is high, customers feel the advanced features, reliability, and superior safety justify the premium price. The consensus is that this radar provides professional grade navigation and peace of mind offshore.
Know before you buy
MotionScope uses the Doppler effect to detect moving targets and color-code them on your display. This allows you to instantly distinguish between approaching vessels, receding objects, and stationary landmasses, making it much easier to assess potential collision risks.
Yes, the GMR Fantom 24 features dual-range support. This allows you to monitor a close-in view for immediate navigation and a long-range view for situational awareness at the same time on your compatible chartplotter.
Absolutely. The unit includes an Auto Bird Gain feature, which is specifically designed to help you locate flocks of birds. Since birds often congregate over active baitfish, this is a highly effective tool for finding productive fishing areas.
Solid-state technology allows the radar to start up instantly without the warm-up time required by traditional magnetron radars. It also provides more consistent performance, lower power consumption, and increased reliability over the life of the unit.
MARPA (Mini-Automatic Radar Plotting Aid) allows you to track and monitor up to 10 targets simultaneously. It calculates the speed and course of these targets, providing you with critical data to help you avoid collisions in busy waterways.
With a 25.4-inch diameter and a weight of 21 pounds, the GMR Fantom 24 is compact enough for many smaller powerboats. However, ensure your mounting surface can support the weight and that you have the necessary clearance for the dome's rotation.
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$2800