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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 ft sailboat: Raymarine Evolution EV-100/200 + Type 1 ram. Standard versatile setup, native Axiom integration.
  • Offshore cruising 40-50 ft 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 linear drive

  • ComputerEV-100 + ACU
  • Frequency5 Hz
  • Wave ModeNo
  • EcosystemAxiom
  • Compatible linear driveType 1 (≤ 11 m / 7.5 t)
  • LevelStandard versatile

925 € HT

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

View Raymarine

Garmin

Reactor 40 Compact + Type 1

  • ComputerReactor 40 Compact
  • Frequency5 Hz
  • Wave ModeAdaptive
  • EcosystemGPSMAP / Axiom compatible
  • Compatible linear driveGarmin GHP12 Type 1
  • LevelStandard versatile

699 € HT

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

View Reactor 40

B&G

H5000 CPU Performance

  • ProcessorH5000 CPU Performance
  • Frequency10 Hz
  • Wave ModeYes (refined)
  • EcosystemFull H5000 + WS720/730
  • LevelSerious IRC racing
  • ActuatorSold separately (T1/T2 hydraulic recommended)

2899 € HT

Pour qui : IRC racing, RORC, Club America Cup

View H5000

Detailed comparison table

2026 distributor prices in France, excluding cylinder, sensors, and labor (calculator only).

CriteriaRaymarine EvolutionGarmin Reactor 40B&G NAC-3B&G H5000
Price (CPU) ex. 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)
Servo update rate5 Hz5 Hz10 Hz10 Hz
Wave Mode (3D swell)NoAdaptiveYesYes (refined)
Integrated polarsNoNoLimitedYes (ORC import)
Compatible ramType 1/2/3GHP12 Type 1/2B&G T1/T2Sold separately
Native ecosystemAxiom + EV-100GPSMAP + ReactorH5000 + ZeusH5000 complete + 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 ex-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 (ram + computer + sensors): ~ 4 200-5 000 € VAT excluded

View Reactor 40

Offshore

Sailboat 40-50 ft — transatlantic + cruising

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

Total installed budget: ~ 6 500-8 000 € VAT excluded

View NAC-3

3 installation mistakes observed in the workshop

  1. Undersized hydraulic ram due to manufacturer's optimistic sizing.

    The manufacturer quotes 7.5 t displacement, so we pick Type 1. Except the boat sails with water + fuel + crew + gear = 9.5 t. Type 1 labors, overheats, and slams. Always size to the actual sailing weight.

  2. Electromechanical ram for heavy offshore use.

    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 disengages, and you’re at the helm 18 hours a day. The real-world savings are negative.

  3. Brand choice incompatible with the existing system.

    Raymarine chartplotter + Garmin autopilot = no autopilot control from Axiom, Garmin remote control required at 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.

Autopilot 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 budget 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, for cruising and racing. Indicative distributor prices HT 2026.