2026 Comparator
4 marine autopilots compared on the criteria that matter for a sailboat: ecosystem integration, compatible ram, control loop frequency, Wave mode (3D swell), polars. Workshop recommendation by program.
Raymarine
925 € HT
Pour qui : Coastal cruising 30-40 ft sailboats, Raymarine ecosystem
View RaymarineGarmin
699 € HT
Pour qui : Mixed cruising sail + power, 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's Cup
View H50002026 distributor prices in France, ex-works (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) |
| Control frequency | 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 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 integration with existing Axiom systems.
Total installed budget (actuator + computer + sensors): ~ €4,200-5,000 ex. VAT
View Reactor 40Offshore
The B&G NAC-3 + T1 hydraulic ram is our standard offshore autopilot workbench setup. 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 based on actual sailing weight.
The Type 3 electromechanical autopilot 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 at the helm 18 hours a day. The actual 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 primary chartplotter (or Madintec, which is compatible with all systems).
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, and displays must be replaced. Allow 15–25 days of yard work + €8,000–12,000 ex-VAT for parts. Prefer migrating between two winter seasons.
NKE Mode Wave has been the reference since 2010, fine-tuned over decades of IMOCA racing. B&G caught up in 2022 with its own algorithm. In practice, NKE retains 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 continuous while cruising, 4-8 A in rough offshore racing. Over 14 days = 1,000-3,000 Ah cumulative. Allow a minimum of 400 Ah usable capacity dedicated to the autopilot + house loads. See our lithium battery sizing guide.
Skysat distributes Raymarine, Garmin, B&G/Navico, NKE Marine Electronics, and Madintec. Comparator based on 120+ autopilot installations 2018-2026, cruising and racing. 2026 indicative distributor prices before tax.
