Best Autopilot with Control Head (2026): 12 Picks Compared
For boat owners who want the control head in the box, the Raymarine EV-100 p70 Tiller Pilot Pack leads this guide because it names both the drive and the control head, covering a tiller-steered sailboat in one pack. The list compares 12 autopilots on stated details and live prices, ordered first by whether the title names the drive and control head, then by pool order.
12 picks from 26 marine autopilots that match this guide with a price we can quote today, made by 6 makers. Every price below is live and carries the moment it was read.
The picks at a glance
Which one should you buy?
- For a tiller-steered sailboat: A tiller pilot with the control head built in and the drive included suits a sailboat with tiller steering, so the pack covers the whole system. See pick 1
- For a wheel-steered cruiser: A wheel pilot pack that names the drive and control head fits a sailboat with wheel steering, giving the buyer the core components in one box. See pick 2
- For a center console with hydraulic steering: A hydraulic autopilot with the control head and drive named in the pack suits a powerboat with hydraulic steering, so the buyer knows what is included. See pick 3
- For a boat with an electronic helm: A steer-by-wire autopilot with the control head named in the pack fits a boat with an electronic helm, though the drive may need separate selection. See pick 7
The 12 picks
1 Only tiller pilot with drive and control head
RAYMARINE EV-100 p70 Tiller Pilot Pack
- Steering
- Tiller
- Boat type
- Sail
- Drive in the box
- Included
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- EV-100
$2,152.18 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks first because the title names both the drive (the tiller) and the control head (p70) in the pack, meeting the top tier of the ordering rule. It is the only tiller pilot in the pool with both components stated, and it is listed for sailboats.
Pros
- Drive included: the tiller is named in the pack
- Control head included: p70 is named in the pack
- Steering type stated: tiller
- Boat type stated: sail
Cons
- Line is EV-100, so no higher-line options are named
- No hydraulic or wheel steering support is stated
Good fit if
- Sailboat owners with tiller steering who want a complete pack
- Buyers who prefer a single box with the drive and control head
Skip if
- You need a wheel or hydraulic autopilot
- You want a control head that is separate from the drive unit
Verdict: A complete tiller pilot pack for sailboats, with the drive and control head both named in the box.
2 Wheel pilot with drive and control head named
Raymarine EV-100 p70 Wheel Pilot Pack Gray Large
- Steering
- Wheel
- Boat type
- Sail
- Drive in the box
- Included
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- EV-100
$1,927.68 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks second because the title names both the drive (wheel) and the control head (p70), placing it in the top tier. It is listed for sailboats with wheel steering, making it a direct alternative to the tiller pilot for a different steering setup.
Pros
- Drive included: the wheel drive is named in the pack
- Control head included: p70 is named in the pack
- Steering type stated: wheel
- Boat type stated: sail
Cons
- Line is EV-100, so no higher-line options are named
- No hydraulic or tiller steering support is stated
Good fit if
- Sailboat owners with wheel steering who want a complete pack
- Buyers who need the drive and control head in one box
Skip if
- You have a tiller-steered sailboat
- You need a hydraulic or powerboat autopilot
Verdict: A wheel pilot pack for sailboats, with the drive and control head both named in the box.
3 Power pilot with hydraulic drive and control head
EV-150 Power Pilot with p70Rs Control Head
- Steering
- Hydraulic
- Boat type
- Power
- Drive in the box
- Included
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- EV-150
$1,807.36 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks third because the title names both the drive (1.0L hydraulic pump) and the control head (p70Rs), meeting the top tier. It is the only powerboat pick in the pool with both components stated, and it is listed for hydraulic steering.
Pros
- Drive included: 1.0L hydraulic pump is named in the pack
- Control head included: p70Rs is named in the pack
- Steering type stated: hydraulic
- Boat type stated: power
Cons
- Line is EV-150, so no higher-line options are named
- No sailboat or tiller steering support is stated
Good fit if
- Powerboat owners with hydraulic steering who want a complete pack
- Buyers who need the drive and control head in one box
Skip if
- You have a sailboat with tiller or wheel steering
- You need a steer-by-wire or mechanical autopilot
Verdict: A powerboat hydraulic autopilot with the drive and control head both named in the pack.
4 Hydraulic corepack with drive and control head
Garmin Reactor 40 Hydraulic Corepack
- Steering
- Hydraulic
- Drive in the box
- Included
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- Reactor 40
$4,399.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks fourth because the title names both the drive (SmartPump v2) and the control head (GHC 50), placing it in the top tier. It is a Garmin Reactor 40 pack for hydraulic steering, with both components stated.
Pros
- Drive included: SmartPump v2 is named in the pack
- Control head included: GHC 50 is named in the pack
- Steering type stated: hydraulic
- Line is Reactor 40
Cons
- Boat type is not stated by the seller
- No sailboat or tiller steering support is stated
Good fit if
- Boat owners with hydraulic steering who want a complete pack
- Buyers who prefer a Garmin Reactor 40 system
Skip if
- You need a tiller or wheel pilot
- You want a pack without a hydraulic pump
Verdict: A hydraulic corepack with the drive and control head both named in the box.
5 Compact hydraulic autopilot with control head
Garmin Compact Reactor 40 Hydraulic Autopilot
- Steering
- Hydraulic
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- Reactor 40
$1,799.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:39 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks fifth because the title names the control head (GHC 50) but not the drive, placing it in the second tier. It is a Garmin Reactor 40 pack for hydraulic steering, with the control head included.
Pros
- Control head included: GHC 50 is named in the pack
- Steering type stated: hydraulic
- Line is Reactor 40
- Compact version is named in the title
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- Boat type is not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Boat owners with hydraulic steering who already have a drive
- Buyers who want a Garmin Reactor 40 with the control head in the box
Skip if
- You need a drive included in the pack
- You have a tiller or wheel steering system
Verdict: A compact hydraulic autopilot with the control head named, but the drive is not stated.
6 Kicker motor autopilot with control head
Garmin Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot w/GHC 50 Stainless Steel Tilt Tube
- Steering
- Kicker motor
- Boat type
- Power
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- Reactor 40
$2,999.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks sixth because the title names the control head (GHC 50) but not the drive, placing it in the second tier. It is a Garmin Reactor 40 pack for kicker motor steering, with the control head included.
Pros
- Control head included: GHC 50 is named in the pack
- Steering type stated: kicker motor
- Boat type stated: power
- Line is Reactor 40
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- No hydraulic or tiller steering support is stated
Good fit if
- Powerboat owners with a kicker motor who want a control head in the box
- Buyers who need a Garmin Reactor 40 for kicker steering
Skip if
- You need a drive included in the pack
- You have hydraulic or wheel steering
Verdict: A kicker motor autopilot with the control head named, but the drive is not stated.
7 Steer-by-wire autopilot with control head
Garmin Reactor 40 Autopilot Steer-By-Wire Standard with GHC50 Control
- Steering
- Steer-by-wire
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- Reactor 40
$2,799.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks seventh because the title names the control head (GHC 50) but not the drive, placing it in the second tier. It is a Garmin Reactor 40 pack for steer-by-wire steering, with the control head included.
Pros
- Control head included: GHC 50 is named in the pack
- Steering type stated: steer-by-wire
- Line is Reactor 40
- Standard version is named in the title
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- Boat type is not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Boat owners with an electronic helm who want a control head in the box
- Buyers who need a Garmin Reactor 40 for steer-by-wire
Skip if
- You need a drive included in the pack
- You have hydraulic or mechanical steering
Verdict: A steer-by-wire autopilot with the control head named, but the drive is not stated.
8 EV-100 core pack with p70s control head
Raymarine Pilot Raymarine T70281 Pilot
- Drive in the box
- Not included
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- EV-100
$1,400.03 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks eighth because the title names the control head (p70s) but not the drive, placing it in the second tier. It is a Raymarine EV-100 core pack, with the control head included.
Pros
- Control head included: p70s is named in the pack
- Line is EV-100
- Core pack is named in the title
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- Steering type is not stated by the seller
- Boat type is not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Boat owners who already have a drive and need a control head
- Buyers who want a Raymarine EV-100 core pack
Skip if
- You need a drive included in the pack
- You want a tiller or wheel pilot with the drive
Verdict: An EV-100 core pack with the p70s control head named, but the drive is not stated.
9 EV-200 core pack with P70 control head
Raymarine T70155 Pilo Ev-200 A/P with P70 No Drive
- Drive in the box
- Not included
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- EV-200
$2,299.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks ninth because the title names the control head (P70) but not the drive, placing it in the second tier. It is a Raymarine EV-200 core pack, with the control head included.
Pros
- Control head included: P70 is named in the pack
- Line is EV-200
- Core pack is named in the title
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- Steering type is not stated by the seller
- Boat type is not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Boat owners who already have a drive and need a control head
- Buyers who want a Raymarine EV-200 core pack
Skip if
- You need a drive included in the pack
- You want a tiller or wheel pilot with the drive
Verdict: An EV-200 core pack with the P70 control head named, but the drive is not stated.
10 Power pack with p70R control head
Raymarine (T70154) Pilot Ev-100 P70R Power Pack
- Boat type
- Power
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- EV-100
$1,562.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks tenth because the title names the control head (p70R) but not the drive, placing it in the second tier. It is a Raymarine EV-100 power pack, with the control head included.
Pros
- Control head included: p70R is named in the pack
- Boat type stated: power
- Line is EV-100
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- Steering type is not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Powerboat owners who already have a drive and need a control head
- Buyers who want a Raymarine EV-100 power pack
Skip if
- You need a drive included in the pack
- You have a sailboat with tiller or wheel steering
Verdict: An EV-100 power pack with the p70R control head named, but the drive is not stated.
11 AP44 pack with control head included
Simrad 000-13291-002 Ap44 Vrf Medium Capacity Autopilot Pack
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- AP44
$2,849.00 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks eleventh because the title names the control head (AP44) but not the drive, placing it in the second tier. It is a Simrad AP44 pack, with the control head included.
Pros
- Control head included: AP44 is named in the pack
- Line is AP44
- Medium capacity is named in the title
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- Steering type is not stated by the seller
- Boat type is not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Boat owners who already have a drive and need a control head
- Buyers who want a Simrad AP44 pack
Skip if
- You need a drive included in the pack
- You want a tiller or wheel pilot with the drive
Verdict: An AP44 pack with the control head named, but the drive is not stated.
12 A2004 pack with control head included
Simrad A2004 Autopilot Pack
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- A2004
$3,349.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:39 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks twelfth because the title names the control head (A2004) but not the drive, placing it in the second tier. It is a Simrad A2004 pack, with the control head included.
Pros
- Control head included: A2004 is named in the pack
- Line is A2004
- No compass is named in the title
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- Steering type is not stated by the seller
- Boat type is not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Boat owners who already have a drive and need a control head
- Buyers who want a Simrad A2004 pack
Skip if
- You need a drive included in the pack
- You want a tiller or wheel pilot with the drive
Verdict: An A2004 pack with the control head named, but the drive is not stated.
Side by side
| # | Marine autopilot | Steering | Boat type | Drive in the box | Control head | Model line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAYMARINE EV-100 p70 Tiller Pilot Pack | Tiller | Sail | Included | Included | EV-100 |
| 2 | Raymarine EV-100 p70 Wheel Pilot Pack Gray Large | Wheel | Sail | Included | Included | EV-100 |
| 3 | EV-150 Power Pilot with p70Rs Control Head | Hydraulic | Power | Included | Included | EV-150 |
| 4 | Garmin Reactor 40 Hydraulic Corepack | Hydraulic | not stated | Included | Included | Reactor 40 |
| 5 | Garmin Compact Reactor 40 Hydraulic Autopilot | Hydraulic | not stated | not stated | Included | Reactor 40 |
| 6 | Garmin Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot w/GHC 50 Stainless Steel Tilt Tube | Kicker motor | Power | not stated | Included | Reactor 40 |
| 7 | Garmin Reactor 40 Autopilot Steer-By-Wire Standard with GHC50 Control | Steer-by-wire | not stated | not stated | Included | Reactor 40 |
| 8 | Raymarine Pilot Raymarine T70281 Pilot | not stated | not stated | Not included | Included | EV-100 |
| 9 | Raymarine T70155 Pilo Ev-200 A/P with P70 No Drive | not stated | not stated | Not included | Included | EV-200 |
| 10 | Raymarine (T70154) Pilot Ev-100 P70R Power Pack | not stated | Power | not stated | Included | EV-100 |
| 11 | Simrad 000-13291-002 Ap44 Vrf Medium Capacity Autopilot Pack | not stated | not stated | not stated | Included | AP44 |
| 12 | Simrad A2004 Autopilot Pack | not stated | not stated | not stated | Included | A2004 |
How we picked
This guide draws from a pool of 26 priced listings, narrowed to 12 picks after folding near-duplicates. The ordering rule ranks listings whose title names both the drive and the control head in the box (or a tiller pilot with its built-in keypad) first, then those naming only the control head, then those naming neither. Inside each tier, picks follow the order in the pool file. Every autopilot is compared on stated details and live prices, with no claims beyond what the listing states. The guide keeps a spread across makers: Raymarine, Garmin, and Simrad are represented, with at most five picks from any one maker.
How to choose
Start with the steering you already have
The first decision is matching the autopilot to your boat's own steering. The listings state the steering type when the title names it: tiller, wheel, hydraulic, mechanical, steer-by-wire, or kicker motor. If the title does not name a steering type, the seller has not stated it, and the buyer should confirm it on the maker's page and with the listing before purchase.
Sail or power
The boat type matters because tiller and wheel pilots are cockpit units for sailboats, while powerboat packs are listed for power. Some listings state the boat type in the title, such as "Sail" or "Power." When the title does not name a boat type, the seller has not stated it, and the buyer should check the listing for details.
Complete pack or core pack
A complete pack names the drive or pump in the box, so the buyer knows the steering actuator is included. A core pack does not name the drive, meaning the boat already has a drive or needs one chosen for its steering. Read the listing to see what is in the box, because the title may not state the drive.
Control head in the box or bought separately
This guide covers autopilots whose titles name the control head in the pack, such as p70, p70s, p70R, p70Rs, GHC 50, AP44, AP70, or A2004. A control head in the box means the buyer does not need to source it separately. If the control head is not named, it is not stated by the seller.
Reading the model line
The model line is a name on the listing, such as EV-100, EV-150, EV-200, Reactor 40, AP44, or A2004. The line name tells you which family the autopilot belongs to, but it does not by itself say which drive or control head is included. Compare the other stated details to see what is in each pack.
What this guide leaves out (and why)
The catalogue has no data on course-holding accuracy, power draw, noise, thrust, or how an autopilot behaves in waves. It also does not state which boat length or displacement a unit suits, even when a number appears in a product name. For those details, check the maker's page and consult a qualified installer.
Questions
What does "control head included" mean in this guide?
It means the listing title names the control head in the pack, such as p70, p70s, p70R, p70Rs, GHC 50, AP44, AP70, or A2004. The control head is the interface for operating the autopilot. If the title does not name a control head, the seller has not stated it, and the buyer should check the listing for contents.
Does this guide say which boat size or sea state an autopilot handles?
No. The catalogue has no data for boat length, displacement, or sea state behavior. Even if a number appears in a product name, this guide does not turn it into a fit claim. For those details, check the maker's page and consult a qualified installer. The guide compares autopilots only on stated details and live prices.
Why are some picks listed as core packs without a drive?
A core pack does not name the drive in the box, meaning the boat already has a drive or needs one chosen for its steering. The title states the control head but not the drive. Read the listing to see what is included, and confirm the drive type with the maker's page if needed.
Can I use a tiller pilot on a powerboat?
The listings state the boat type when the title names it. Tiller pilots in this pool are listed for sailboats, while powerboat packs are listed for power. If the boat type is not stated, the seller has not stated it. Always check the listing and maker's page to confirm compatibility with your boat's steering.
What is the difference between a wheel pilot and a tiller pilot?
A wheel pilot is a drive unit for a wheel-steered sailboat, while a tiller pilot is a drive unit for a tiller-steered sailboat. Both are cockpit units for sailboats, and the title states the steering type when it is named. The buyer should match the drive to the boat's own steering system.
Recent updates
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