Garmin Open Arrays
Garmin Open Arrays
Garmin pairs decades of GPS heritage with some of the most capable sonar and chartplotting on the water. This is the Garmin open arrays range: long-range open-array scanners for serious offshore radar.
Browse the full Garmin range or Open Arrays from every brand.
Open array size and what it buys you
Open array radar trades the enclosed dome's convenience for a narrower horizontal beam width and greater range, which mainly benefits offshore passage-making where separating two targets at distance, or picking out a small contact against sea clutter, matters more than a compact footprint. Array length is the main variable: a longer array narrows the beam further and extends usable range, at the cost of more deck or mast space and a heavier pedestal.
Because an open array physically rotates and has a larger swept area than a radome, mounting position needs enough clearance on all sides, including headroom for anyone standing near it, and a mast or arch strong enough to carry the additional weight and windage.
Power and data typically run over Ethernet back to the network alongside NMEA 2000, so cable routing and connector protection at the mount are worth planning before installation rather than after the array is up.
