2026 Comparison
4 marine autopilots compared on the criteria that matter for 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 : Sailboat 40-50 feet, 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 VAT, for autopilot computer only (excludes ram, sensors, labor).
| Criteria | Raymarine Evolution | Garmin Reactor 40 | B&G NAC-3 | B&G H5000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price of autopilot controller (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) |
| Servo drive 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 (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 | Sail/motor hybrid | 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 (actuator + computer + sensors): ~ €4,200-5,000 ex. VAT
View Reactor 40Offshore
The B&G NAC-3 + T1 hydraulic ram is our offshore workshop standard. 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 rattles. Always size based on 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 system saturates, the autopilot disengages, 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 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 ram T1/T2 without issue. This is NKE’s open flexibility.
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 maintains a slight edge in rough tropical seas, while B&G excels in the English Channel and 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 app 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 this equals 1 000-3 000 Ah cumulative. Plan for a minimum of 400 Ah usable capacity dedicated to the autopilot plus other services. 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. Indicative distributor prices HT 2026.
