The Garmin GPSMAP 8616xsv is the 16-inch full-HD IPS touchscreen chartplotter / fishfinder combo with built-in 1-kW Dual-Channel CHIRP traditional sonar, ClearVu down-imaging, and SideVu side-imaging (transducer sold separately, up to 1,000 feet at 260 kHz). Preloaded Garmin Navionics+ coastal and inland mapping with Auto Guidance+. Garmin Marine Network, NMEA 2000, NMEA 0183, Bluetooth, ANT, and Wi-Fi connectivity. SmartMode one-touch station presets. SailAssist sailing-race features. Pairs with Garmin Panoptix live sonar (separate transducer). Multi-display glass helm flat-mount or flush mount. The flagship-class 16-inch chartplotter / sonar combo for serious helm builds on 35-60+ ft cruisers, sport-fish, and yachts.
The Garmin GPSMAP 8616xsv (Garmin part 010-02093-51) is the 16-inch full-HD touchscreen chartplotter / fishfinder combo at the top of the GPSMAP 86 series. The xsv designation means built-in sonar (1-kW Dual-Channel CHIRP traditional + ClearVu down-imaging + SideVu side-imaging from one connected transducer). The GN+ designation means preloaded Garmin Navionics+ coastal and inland mapping with Auto Guidance+. The 16-inch screen size is the largest in the GPSMAP 86 line, designed for serious helm builds on larger boats where dash space allows the bigger display and the operator wants the chart and sonar both displayed at full visibility from the helm seat.
What 16 inches buys you. The 16-inch screen lets you split the display into multi-pane layouts (chart + sonar + radar + instruments) without any single pane getting too small to read. On the 8612 12-inch unit, a 4-pane split makes each pane about 5×4 inches – readable but tight. On the 8616 16-inch unit, the same 4-pane split makes each pane about 7×5 inches – significantly easier to read at distance and easier to interact with via touch. For dedicated helm chartplotter installs on larger boats, the 16-inch is the right size. For boats with limited dash space, the 12-inch 8612 is the right balance of size vs. footprint.
Built-in 1-kW Dual-Channel CHIRP sonar. The xsv variant has built-in 1-kW Dual-Channel CHIRP sonar (with the appropriate transducer connected, sold separately). 1 kW of transmit power is the right power class for offshore deep-water sonar. Dual-channel means you can run two CHIRP frequencies simultaneously (typically a low-frequency channel for deep water plus a high-frequency channel for high-detail near-bottom view). The CHIRP sweep across multiple frequencies on each ping gives better target separation than fixed-frequency sonar – small individual fish that smear together as a single mark on fixed-frequency show as separate marks on CHIRP.
Built-in ClearVu and SideVu. The same xsv unit also drives Garmin’s ClearVu (down-imaging high-frequency sonar for near-photographic structure detail directly below the boat) and SideVu (side-imaging sonar for high-detail view to either side of the boat). Both modes work at 260 kHz down to 1,000 feet (with the appropriate ClearVu / SideVu transducer connected). For boats covering both deep-water sonar (CHIRP) and shallow-water structure imaging (ClearVu / SideVu), the 8616xsv handles both with the right transducer combo without needing a separate sonar module.
16-inch full-HD IPS touchscreen. The 16-inch (1920 x 1200 native) IPS panel runs at full HD resolution with sunlight readability, polarized-sunglasses compatibility, and wide off-axis viewing angles. The IPS technology gives clearer color rendition and consistent appearance from off-center seating positions than older TN displays. Direct-sun helm operation stays clear without washing out. Polarized sunglasses (the standard for marine eyewear) don’t black out the screen at any normal viewing angle.
Preloaded Garmin Navionics+ charts. The GN+ designation means the unit ships preloaded with Garmin Navionics+ coastal charts (covering U.S. coastal waters in detail) plus inland lake mapping (covering most U.S. inland waters with bathymetry). Includes Auto Guidance+ technology that calculates a recommended navigation route from your current position to a destination based on the boat’s draft and the chart’s depth and obstruction data. The Navionics+ preload includes a 1-year subscription for downloadable daily chart updates and the OneChart purchase / download capability.
Premium chart upgrade options. Optional Garmin Navionics Vision+ premium chart subscription adds downloadable high-resolution shaded relief, satellite imagery, sonar imagery, and other premium chart features. For boats that want maximum chart detail in their cruising area, Vision+ is the upgrade path.
Multi-display glass helm capability. Multiple GPSMAP 86 series displays can be flat-mounted edge-to-edge to create a sleek glass helm look, or flush-mounted into separate dash cutouts for a clean built-in appearance. Common multi-display setups: two 16-inch units side-by-side, one 16-inch + one 12-inch, three units in a row across a wide helm console. The matching bezel design and matching display technology means the multi-screen install looks intentional and integrated.
Garmin Marine Network + NMEA 2000 + NMEA 0183 + Bluetooth + ANT + Wi-Fi. Six connectivity protocols cover every typical marine integration need. Garmin Marine Network (Ethernet) for high-speed Garmin device sharing. NMEA 2000 for the boat’s instrument backbone. NMEA 0183 for legacy instruments that haven’t moved to NMEA 2000. Bluetooth for personal devices. ANT for Garmin wireless accessories (quatix smartwatches, gWind sensors, GNX wind instruments, wireless remotes). Wi-Fi for ActiveCaptain mobile app, OneChart purchases, Garmin Quickdraw Community data, and software updates.
OneHelm third-party device control. The OneHelm feature lets the chartplotter directly control compatible third-party devices integrated with the Garmin ecosystem – digital switching panels, lighting, audio, batteries, engines from various third-party manufacturers. The integration means the chartplotter becomes a central control panel for the entire boat’s systems beyond just navigation.
SmartMode station controls. SmartMode lets you build station presets that recall specific multi-pane layouts with one button press. Common presets: Docking, Cruising, Fishing, Anchoring. Build the layouts once during setup, recall instantly when conditions change.
SailAssist sailing-race features. Built-in SailAssist features include laylines, virtual race start line guidance, enhanced wind rose, heading and course-over-ground lines, true wind data fields, tide / current / time slider, wind angle, set and drift, wind speed, sailing polars (showing how fast you should go at a given wind angle and speed). For sailing race campaigns, SailAssist on the 16-inch screen gives serious dedicated-instrument-class capability without buying a separate dedicated sailing instrument.
Live sonar compatible. Pair the 8616xsv with Garmin Panoptix live sonar (LiveScope / LiveScope Plus / PS51 forward-looking – transducers sold separately) to add real-time view of fish around the boat to the unit’s existing CHIRP / ClearVu / SideVu sonar capability. The live sonar view appears as one of the sonar pane options on the screen alongside the traditional sonar history view.
GRID 20 remote control compatible. The optional GRID 20 remote input device (sold separately) provides intuitive remote access and control of the entire Garmin marine system from a separate location on the boat. Useful for multi-helm boats where the operator wants chartplotter control from the cockpit or flybridge without a second full chartplotter installed there.
ActiveCaptain mobile app. The free ActiveCaptain app on iOS or Android pairs with the 8616xsv over Wi-Fi for chart purchases / downloads, smart phone notifications on the chartplotter, software updates, Garmin Helm screen mirroring on phone, Garmin Quickdraw Community bathymetry sharing, and trip planning at home before heading to the boat.
What’s in the box. GPSMAP 8616xsv 16-inch chartplotter / fishfinder combo (with preloaded Navionics+ charts), flush mount kit, NMEA 2000 cable, power cable, install instructions. Required separately: appropriate transducers for the sonar capabilities you want to use (1kW CHIRP, ClearVu, SideVu – usually combined into one Airmar or Garmin chirp / dual-purpose transducer per boat type), chart cards for additional regions beyond preloaded coverage, NMEA 2000 backbone if not already installed.
2-year limited Garmin warranty. Same-day shipping before 3 PM ET on in-stock units. Note: 16-inch oversize box may incur freight surcharges from carriers on certain routes.
