2026 Comparator
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.
Raymarine
925 € HT
Pour qui : Coastal cruising 30-40 ft, Raymarine ecosystem
View RaymarineGarmin
699 € HT
Pour qui : Mixed cruising sail + powerboat, 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 racing, RORC, Club America Cup
View H50002026 distributor prices in France, excluding cylinder, sensors, and labor (calculator only).
| Criteria | Raymarine Evolution | Garmin Reactor 40 | B&G NAC-3 | B&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 rate | 5 Hz | 5 Hz | 10 Hz | 10 Hz |
| Wave Mode (3D swell) | No | Adaptive | Yes | Yes (refined) |
| Integrated polars | No | No | Limited | Yes (ORC import) |
| 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 complete + 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 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 40Offshore
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-3The 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.
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.
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).
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 the open flexibility of NKE.
Heavy. The CPU + wind sensors + displays must be replaced. Allow 15-25 days of yard work + €8,000-12,000 ex VAT for parts. Prefer upgrading between two winter seasons.
NKE Mode Wave has been the reference since 2010, fine-tuning over decades of IMOCA racing. B&G caught up in 2022 with its own algorithm. In practice, NKE retains a slight advantage 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 consumes 2-4 A continuously while cruising, 4-8 A in heavy offshore racing conditions. Over 14 days, this totals 1,000-3,000 Ah. Allow a minimum of 400 Ah of usable capacity dedicated to the autopilot and essential services. See our lithium battery sizing article.
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.
