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2026 Comparator

Sailboat Autopilot Comparator — Skysat

4 marine autopilots compared on the criteria that matter on a sailboat: ecosystem integration, compatible ram, servo frequency, Wave mode (3D swell), polars. Workshop recommendation by program.

The essentials in 30 seconds

  • Coastal cruising 30-40 feet sailboat: Raymarine Evolution EV-100/200 + Type 1 ram. Standard versatile setup, native Axiom integration.
  • Offshore cruising 40-50 feet sailboat: B&G NAC-3 + B&G T1 hydraulic ram. Wave mode for rough seas, native H5000 integration.
  • Serious IRC racing: B&G H5000 CPU Performance + WS720S + Zeus 3S. Real-time polars and layline data.
  • For more details: detailed B&G vs Raymarine article.

The 4 autopilots compared

Raymarine

Evolution EV-100 + Type 1 ram

  • ComputerEV-100 + ACU
  • Frequency5 Hz
  • Wave ModeNo
  • EcosystemAxiom
  • Compatible ramType 1 (≤ 11 m / 7.5 t)
  • LevelStandard all-round

925 € HT

Pour qui : Coastal cruising 30-40 ft sailboats, Raymarine ecosystem

View Raymarine

Garmin

Reactor 40 Compact + Type 1

  • ComputerReactor 40 Compact
  • Frequency5 Hz
  • Wave ModeAdaptive
  • EcosystemGPSMAP / Axiom compatible
  • Compatible ramGarmin GHP12 Type 1
  • LevelStandard all-round

699 € HT

Pour qui : Mixed sail + power cruising, sailboat ≤ 11 m

View Reactor 40

B&G

H5000 CPU Performance

  • ComputerH5000 CPU Performance
  • Frequency10 Hz
  • Wave ModeYes (refined)
  • EcosystemFull H5000 + WS720/730
  • LevelSerious IRC racing
  • RamSold separately (T1/T2 hydraulic recommended)

2899 € HT

Pour qui : IRC racing, RORC, club America's Cup

View H5000

Detailed comparison table

2026 distributor prices in France, calculator only (excl. ram, sensors, labor).

CriteriaRaymarine EvolutionGarmin Reactor 40B&G NAC-3B&G H5000
CPU price (excl. VAT)~ 1 900 €~ 1,579 USD~ 1,649 USD~ 2,899 USD
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)
Response frequency5 Hz5 Hz10 Hz10 Hz
Wave Mode (3D swell)NoAdaptiveYesYes (refined)
Integrated polarsNoNoLimitedYes (import ORC)
Compatible ramType 1/2/3GHP12 Type 1/2B&G T1/T2Sold separately
Native ecosystemAxiom + EV-100GPSMAP + ReactorH5000 + ZeusH5000 full + WS720
Target programCoastal cruisingMixed sail/powerOffshore comfortIRC racing

Skysat workshop verdict — by program

Coastal

Sailboat 30-40 ft — coastal cruising

The Garmin Reactor 40 Compact (€1,579 excl. VAT) or the Raymarine Evolution EV-100 cover coastal use without extra cost. Garmin has a slight edge for fishing, Raymarine for existing Axiom integration.

Total installed budget (actuator + computer + sensors): ~ €4,200-5,000 ex. VAT

View Reactor 40

Offshore

Sailboat 40-50 ft — offshore racing + cruising

The B&G NAC-3 + T1 hydraulic ram is our standard offshore workshop autopilot. Essential Wave mode in rough seas, H5000 / WS320 integration, flawless helm ↔ autopilot reversibility.

Total installed budget: ~ €6,500-8,000 ex. VAT

View NAC-3

3 installation errors observed in the workshop

  1. Undersized actuator due to manufacturer’s optimistic sizing.

    The 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 for the actual sailing weight.

  2. Electromechanical ram for heavy offshore use.

    The Type 3 electromechanical unit costs ~ €1,000 less than the T2 hydraulic model. However, in rough seas at 25 knots, the electromechanical system saturates, the autopilot cuts out, and you’re steering manually 18 hours a day. The actual savings are negative.

  3. Brand choice incompatible with existing ecosystem.

    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).

  4. Croire que le prix du calculateur = le prix du pilote complet.

    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.

Pilot recommendation calculator

4 questions to identify the autopilot suited to your sailboat and program.

1. Main program?
2. Sailboat size?
3. Existing chartplotter ecosystem?
4. Controller unit price only (excl. VAT)?
Question 1 / 4

FAQ — Choosing your autopilot

Skysat distributes Raymarine, Garmin, B&G/Navico, NKE Marine Electronics, and Madintec. Comparator based on 120+ autopilot installations from 2018–2026, cruising and racing. 2026 indicative distributor prices before tax.