Nautical blog

B&G vs Raymarine autopilot for 40-50 foot sailboat: 2026 technical guide

On a 40-50 foot sailboat, choosing an autopilot rarely comes down to the brand. It comes down to the navigation program, the rudder geometry, the existing electronics network, and the integration philosophy you're willing to accept. B&G NAC-3 and Raymarine Evolution both cover this segment: we regularly install both, and each ecosystem has a domain where it's honestly more relevant than the other. This article compares the two families point by point — computer, sensors, ram, routing, price, warranty — and gives a verdict argued by use case. No "best autopilot", because it always depends on the boat and the skipper. But a clear decision grid, signed by an engineer who has installed them.