The most popular autopilots for sailboats

February 12, 2026 • 5 min read

A practical guide to choosing the right autopilot for your boat.

The sails are up, you are on course, but you need to leave the helm for a minute: Grab a jacket, tighten a sheet, make a hot drink, or check the harbour guide to find the best anchorage for the night. Those are some of the moments when you appreciate having an autopilot onboard.

Autopilots have been around for decades, and they’ve earned their place on sailboats for many reasons. For cruisers, convenience and reducing workload are important. For short-handed and long-distance racing, high-performance autopilots deliver race-winning piloting that constantly adapts to wind changes without tiring.

So how do you choose the right one? Read on to learn about the different types of autopilots and which ones are most popular on the Orca fleet.

Autopilot categories

Autopilots for sailboats can be divided into three categories:

• Tiller pilots

• Wheel pilots

• Direct drive pilots

The type of boat you own, how you use it, and your budget greatly impact which autopilot type you should pick.

Tiller pilot

The tiller pilot, as its name indicates, requires a tiller-operated rudder. They work by connecting an actuator between your tiller and boat deck, turning the tiller just as you would by hand. These pilots are often found on smaller sailboats, and they are popular as DIY retrofits.

A Simrad tiller pilot in its natural environment.

If you have a tiller-operated sailboat, and your boat is not too large, then a tiller pilot is a great upgrade that can make your sailing a lot more enjoyable. Tiller pilots typically start at EUR 600 and run north of EUR 2000 for more capable units.

Wheel pilot

Wheel pilots are a step up from tiller pilots and require a wheel-operated rudder. Older wheel pilots were often belt-driven, but modern ones are often integrated disk drives that connect directly to the wheel on one end and the pedestal on the other.

The Raymarine EV-100 Wheel Pilot is bolted to the wheel. A small electric motor drives the wheel when the autopilot is engaged.

These pilots are popular on many cruisers and are also easy to retrofit. That said, the quality of the installation matters a lot for the reliability and force throughput of a wheel pilot. A complete kit typically starts at 2000 EUR.

Direct drive pilot  

These pilots are mounted under deck and are typically connected to the rudder quadrant via a tiller arm. This makes for a more robust installation that is capable of exerting high loads on the rudder. Direct drives typically use linear actuators or hydraulics, depending on the displacement of the boat and the performance needs of the sailor.

A B&G Hydraulic RAM Drive that connects via a tiller arm to the rudder quadrant.

These drives are less popular as aftermarket upgrades because they are more difficult to install than the alternatives. Today, most factory-new sailboats with an autopilot system are delivered with direct drive systems. These systems often start at 3500 EUR and increase with the drive unit's output force.

Picking an autopilot type  

When picking an autopilot type and drive unit, the drive must be sufficiently powerful. Drives are typically rated by displacement, but you should also factor in your performance requirements and how you intend to use your autopilot. An underpowered autopilot drive may be cheaper, but it can deliver unreliable and potentially dangerous sailing in rough conditions.

For smaller boats or in scenarios where an autopilot is mostly about convenience, upgrading to a tiller or wheel pilot can be a good and cost-effective choice. If you need more performance and reliability, and are willing to pay for it, a direct drive pilot is the better choice. 

Manufacturers

There are many different manufacturers of autopilots for sailboats. Raymarine, Simrad, and B&G are the most popular. Raymarine is especially common on cruising sailboats and offers a full range of solutions, from tiller pilots and wheel pilots to direct drive systems. 

Simrad and B&G are both Navico brands that cater to different segments. Simrad offers the TP series of tiller pilots for smaller boats, while B&G offers high-end direct drive pilots. 

To the left: A high-performance NKE hydraulic drive unit. To the right: A YachtD autopilot controller.

Smaller specialist manufacturers serve more niche needs. NKE is highly regarded in offshore and short-handed racing, where their autopilots are known for exceptional performance in demanding conditions. Yacht Devices does not produce complete autopilot systems, but offers autopilot computers and interface products that are often used to modernize or replace aging installations while retaining existing drives and sensors.

The Orca Fleet

The Orca fleet consists of thousands of sailboats, and the fleet’s equipment is sampled regularly for remote diagnostics and support. As of February 2026, 57% of the Orca fleet has an Autopilot. The distribution by manufacturer is as follows:

Raymarine is the dominant autopilot provider for the Orca fleet.

Raymarine is the most popular choice, with 69% of all autopilots, followed by Navico with 21% and Garmin at 8%. The next manufacturer in line is YachtDevices at less than 0.5%.

Autopilots don’t report their drive type via NMEA 2000, but they do report their computer, which is the device that controls the drive unit. The most popular computer is the Raymarine EV-series at 40% ownership share, followed by 20% of the older Smartpilot series.

The distribution of autopilot models. Some Raymarine models are of an unknown type and are categorized as other, due to how they connect to the Orca Core.

The Navico-manufactured NAC-3 and NAC-2 are used by 12% of autopilot owners, with the older AC-series having 5% share. Garmin’s Reactor series has an 8% share of autopilot-enabled sailboats. Almost 20% of autopilots are of an unknown type, meaning they are connected via an adapter. These are mostly NMEA0183 autopilots, along with an occasional NKE autopilot. 

From a high-level perspective, Raymarine is clearly the largest manufacturer serving the cruising sailboat market, with Navico’s B&G and Simrad brands following at a distant second. If you are looking for a mainstream autopilot, Raymarine is a solid option, while B&G is a great enthusiast brand.

Making the most out of your autopilot

Autopilots help you stay on course, also while away from the helm – but being able to change course when away from the helm makes those situations a lot easier. 

With an Orca Core, you can wirelessly control your autopilot from your phone, tablet, and Orca Display, making it readily available wherever you need it.

Orca Core powers many of the advanced features in Orca.

If you own an autopilot, Orca Core is a fantastic upgrade that makes boating easier and more fun. It also comes with a built-in high-precision compass and GPS. This navigation is shared with autopilots, which in turn can make your autopilot perform better when following routes or holding a steady course in heavy seas.

If you are looking for a truly modern navigation system that gives you complete control of your boat and helps you make better decisions, look no further than Orca. Get Orca with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and free express shipping via the Orca Store.