2026 Comparison
4 marine autopilots compared on the criteria that matter for a sailboat: ecosystem integration, compatible ram, control frequency, Wave mode (3D swell), polars. Workshop recommendation by program.
Raymarine
925 € HT
Pour qui : Coastal cruising 30-40 ft sailboat, Raymarine ecosystem
View RaymarineGarmin
699 € HT
Pour qui : Mixed sail + power cruising, sailboat ≤ 11 m
View Reactor 40B&G
1731 € HT
Pour qui : 40-50 ft sailboat, offshore cruising + IRC racing
View NAC-3B&G
2899 € HT
Pour qui : IRC, RORC, club America's Cup racing
View H50002026 distributor prices excluding VAT for France, calculator only (actuator, sensors, labor not included).
| Criteria | Raymarine Evolution | Garmin Reactor 40 | B&G NAC-3 | B&G H5000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU price (excl. VAT) | ~ 1,900 € | ~ 1,579 € | ~ 1,649 € | ~ $2,899 |
| Périmètre (ce que comprend le prix) | Capteur/calculateur EVO seul (ACU + vérin séparés) | Calculateur seul (ECU + pompe séparés) | Calculateur seul (vérin + commande séparés) | CPU système H5000 (vérin séparé) |
| Update rate | 5 Hz | 5 Hz | 10 Hz | 10 Hz |
| Wave Mode (3D swell) | No | Adaptive | Yes | Yes (refined) |
| Integrated polars | No | No | Limited | Yes (import ORC) |
| Compatible ram | Type 1/2/3 | GHP12 Type 1/2 | B&G T1/T2 | Sold separately |
| Native ecosystem | Axiom + EV-100 | GPSMAP + Reactor | H5000 + Zeus | H5000 full + WS720 |
| Target program | Coastal cruising | Mixed sail/power | Offshore comfort | IRC racing |
Coastal
The Garmin Reactor 40 Compact (€1,579 ex-VAT) or the Raymarine Evolution EV-100 cover coastal use without extra cost. Garmin is slightly ahead for fishing, Raymarine for existing Axiom integration.
Total installed budget (actuator + computer + sensors): ~ 4 200-5 000 € VAT excluded
View Reactor 40Offshore
The B&G NAC-3 + T1 hydraulic drive is our standard high-seas autopilot. Essential Wave mode in rough seas, seamless H5000 / WS320 integration, flawless helm ↔ autopilot reversibility.
Total installed budget: ~ €6,500–8,000 ex. VAT
View NAC-3The manufacturer states a displacement of 7.5 t, so we select Type 1. Except the boat sails with water + fuel + crew + gear = 9.5 t. The Type 1 struggles, overheats, and slams. Always size components based on actual sailing weight.
The Type 3 electromechanical autopilot costs ~ €1,000 less than the T2 hydraulic autopilot. However, in rough seas at 25 knots, the electromechanical unit saturates, the autopilot cuts out, and you’re at the helm 18 hours a day. The real savings are negative.
Raymarine chartplotter + Garmin autopilot = no autopilot control from the Axiom, Garmin remote control required at the cockpit. Always choose an autopilot from the same brand as the main chartplotter (or Madintec, which is compatible with all).
Ces 4 prix sont des calculateurs seuls (le cerveau). Un pilote opérationnel exige en plus un vérin / drive dimensionné sur le poids navigué (souvent le poste le plus cher), parfois une unité de puissance (ACU/ECU) et des capteurs. Comptez le système complet, pas seulement le calculateur — voir le catalogue pilotes & vérins.
4 questions to identify the autopilot suited to your sailboat and program.
Yes, via the MAD Controller Madintec interface. The Gyropilot 3 controls the B&G hydraulic T1/T2 ram without issue. This is NKE’s open flexibility.
Heavy. The CPU, wind sensors, and displays must be replaced. Allow 15–25 days of yard work + €8,000–12,000 ex. VAT for parts. Prefer migration between two winter seasons.
NKE Mode Wave has been the benchmark since 2010, fine-tuned over decades of IMOCA racing. B&G caught up in 2022 with its own algorithm. In practice, NKE maintains a slight edge in rough tropical seas, while B&G excels in the English Channel/short-sea conditions.
Both systems accept ORC (Offshore Racing Congress) import in .pol format. Manual editing is recommended after each sail to fine-tune calibration (correcting real bias). NKE Toplink and B&G apps both save data by point of sail and conditions.
The autopilot draws 2-4 A continuously while cruising, 4-8 A in heavy offshore racing conditions. Over 14 days, this amounts to 1 000-3 000 Ah cumulative. Plan for a minimum of 400 Ah usable capacity dedicated to the autopilot and essential services. See our article on lithium battery sizing.
Skysat distributes Raymarine, Garmin, B&G/Navico, NKE Marine Electronics, and Madintec. Comparator based on 120+ autopilot installations from 2018-2026, for cruising and racing. Indicative distributor prices (excl. VAT) for 2026.
