Best Hydraulic Autopilots in 2026: 10 Picks Compared
Looking for a hydraulic autopilot? The top pick is the Raymarine EV-150 Power Pilot, the only listing in this comparison that names both the drive and the control head in the box. That puts it ahead of core packs and head-only kits. This guide compares all 10 hydraulic autopilots in the pool on their stated details and live prices, so you can see at a glance which unit suits your steering.
10 picks from 11 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 complete hydraulic pack: A powerboat owner with hydraulic steering who wants both the pump and the control head in one order will find the EV-150 pack lists both. See pick 1
- For a Garmin hydraulic system: Owners who already have a Garmin control head and need a SmartPump can choose the Reactor 40 SmartPump V2. See pick 8
- For an owner who has a drive already: If a hydraulic pump is already aboard, the Garmin Compact Reactor 40 with GHC 50 head adds control without a drive. See pick 3
- For a SeaStar Optimus boat: Boats with a SeaStar Optimus system can look at the Furuno NavPilot 300-OPT, which names that system in the title. See pick 9
The 10 picks
1 Complete EV-150 pack with pump and 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)
It ranks first because it is the first listing in the pool that names both the drive and the control head in the box, placing it in the top tier of the ordering rule.
Pros
- Names the 1.0L hydraulic pump in the title
- p70Rs control head included
- Boat type Power stated
- Includes ACU-150, EV1 sensor core and cabling kit
Cons
- Steering type limited to hydraulic
- Boat type is Power, not Sail
- No boat size given
Good fit if
- For a powerboat with hydraulic steering that needs a complete pack
- For an owner who wants the pump and control head from one order
Skip if
- For a boat with mechanical or tiller steering
- For an owner who already has a hydraulic pump
Verdict: A complete hydraulic autopilot pack with drive and control head for powerboats.
2 Corepack with SmartPump v2 and GHC 50
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)
It ranks second because it also names both the drive and the control head, but appears after the EV-150 in the pool order.
Pros
- Names both the SmartPump v2 and the GHC 50 instrument
- Drive included
- Control head included
- Reactor 40 line
Cons
- Steering type is Hydraulic only
- No boat type stated
- Sensor not stated in the title
Good fit if
- For a hydraulic-steered boat that wants a Garmin system
- For an owner who prefers to have the pump and head in one pack
Skip if
- For a boat with non-hydraulic steering
- For an owner who already has a Garmin control head
Verdict: A Garmin Reactor 40 corepack with pump and head for hydraulic steering.
3 Reactor 40 with GHC 50 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)
It ranks third because it names the control head but not the drive, placing it in the second tier of the ordering rule.
Pros
- Control head GHC 50 included
- Reactor 40 line
- Steering Hydraulic
- Compact version named in the title
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- No drive in the box
- No boat type stated
Good fit if
- For an owner who already has a hydraulic pump
- For a boat with hydraulic steering and a Garmin network
Skip if
- For an owner who needs a drive in the box
- For a boat with non-hydraulic steering
Verdict: A Reactor 40 with a GHC 50 head, for systems with an existing pump.
4 Simrad NAC-1 outboard hydraulic pack
Simrad NAC-1 Outboard Pilot Hydraulic Pack
- Steering
- Hydraulic
- Boat type
- Power
- Drive in the box
- Included
- Model line
- NAC-1
$1,274.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:32 UTC (Details)
It ranks fourth because it names the drive but not the control head, putting it in the second tier.
Pros
- Drive included (Mkii PUMP-1)
- Boat type Power stated
- NAC-1 line
- Includes POINT-1 AP
Cons
- Control head not stated
- No control head in the box
- Only for hydraulic steering
Good fit if
- For an outboard powerboat with hydraulic steering
- For an owner who plans to use a separate control head or chartplotter
Skip if
- For an owner who wants a control head in the box
- For a sailboat (boat type is Power)
Verdict: A Simrad NAC-1 hydraulic pack with pump, for outboard boats.
5 Reactor 40 pump pack without head
Pilot, Reactor 40
- Steering
- Hydraulic
- Drive in the box
- Included
- Control head
- Not included
- Model line
- Reactor 40
$3,899.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:41 UTC (Details)
It ranks fifth because it names the drive but not the control head, in the second tier, after the Simrad.
Pros
- SmartPump v2 drive included
- Reactor 40 line
- Steering Hydraulic
Cons
- Control head not included
- No boat type stated
- Title says 'w/o GHC', so head is separate
Good fit if
- For an owner who already has a Garmin control head
- For a hydraulic steering boat
Skip if
- For an owner needing a control head
- For a boat with non-hydraulic steering
Verdict: A Garmin Reactor 40 SmartPump v2 for owners with a head.
6 EV-200 with drive unit
Raymarine Ev-200 Hydraulic Pilot with Drive Unit
- Steering
- Hydraulic
- Drive in the box
- Included
- Model line
- EV-200
$3,499.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
It ranks sixth because it names the drive but not the control head, in the second tier, after the Garmin pump pack.
Pros
- Drive unit included
- EV-200 line
- Steering Hydraulic
Cons
- Control head not stated
- No control head in the box
- No boat type stated
Good fit if
- For an owner who already has a Raymarine control head
- For a hydraulic steering boat
Skip if
- For an owner needing a control head
- For a boat with non-hydraulic steering
Verdict: An EV-200 hydraulic pilot with drive unit, for Raymarine systems.
7 EV-200 with P70R control
Raymarine Pilot Ev-200 with P70R Type 1 Hydraulic
- Steering
- Hydraulic
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- EV-200
$3,201.00 price as of 2026-10-11 18:41 UTC (Details)
It ranks seventh because it names the control head but not the drive, in the second tier, after the drive-only packs.
Pros
- P70R control head included
- EV-200 line
- Steering Hydraulic
Cons
- Drive not stated
- No drive in the box
- No boat type stated
Good fit if
- For an owner who already has a hydraulic pump
- For a Raymarine EV-200 system
Skip if
- For an owner needing a drive
- For a boat with non-hydraulic steering
Verdict: An EV-200 with P70R control, for owners with a pump.
8 Garmin SmartPump V2 drive only
Garmin Reactor 40 SmartPump V2
- Steering
- Hydraulic
- Drive in the box
- Included
- Model line
- Reactor 40
$2,799.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:41 UTC (Details)
It ranks eighth because it names the drive but not the control head, and comes after the Raymarine control-head pack in the pool order.
Pros
- SmartPump V2 drive included
- Reactor 40 line
- Steering Hydraulic
Cons
- Control head not included
- No boat type stated
- No mention of other components
Good fit if
- For an owner with a Garmin head
- For hydraulic steering
Skip if
- For a complete pack
- For non-hydraulic
Verdict: A standalone Reactor 40 SmartPump V2 for Garmin systems.
9 NavPilot 300 for SeaStar Optimus
Furuno NAVPILOT 300-OPT
- Steering
- Hydraulic
- Model line
- NavPilot 300
$2,695.00 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
It ranks ninth because it names neither the drive nor the control head, putting it in the third tier.
Pros
- NavPilot 300 line
- For SeaStar Optimus system as titled
- Steering Hydraulic
Cons
- Drive not stated
- Control head not stated
- No boat type stated
Good fit if
- For a boat with a SeaStar Optimus system
- For an owner who plans to add Furuno components separately
Skip if
- For an owner needing a complete pack
- For a non-Optimus hydraulic system
Verdict: A Furuno NavPilot 300 kit for SeaStar Optimus steering.
10 EV-100 hydraulic pilot
Raymarine T70250 Ev-100 Evolution Hydraulic Pilot
- Steering
- Hydraulic
- Model line
- EV-100
$1,348.84 price as of 2026-10-11 18:32 UTC (Details)
It ranks last because it names neither drive nor control head, in the third tier, after the Furuno.
Pros
- EV-100 line
- Steering Hydraulic
- Evolution series in title
Cons
- Drive not stated
- Control head not stated
- No boat type stated
Good fit if
- For an owner who already has an EV-100 drive and control
- For a Raymarine system
Skip if
- For an owner needing a complete pack
- For an owner new to autopilots
Verdict: An EV-100 hydraulic pilot for owners with existing components.
Side by side
| # | Marine autopilot | Steering | Boat type | Drive in the box | Control head | Model line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EV-150 Power Pilot with p70Rs Control Head | Hydraulic | Power | Included | Included | EV-150 |
| 2 | Garmin Reactor 40 Hydraulic Corepack | Hydraulic | not stated | Included | Included | Reactor 40 |
| 3 | Garmin Compact Reactor 40 Hydraulic Autopilot | Hydraulic | not stated | not stated | Included | Reactor 40 |
| 4 | Simrad NAC-1 Outboard Pilot Hydraulic Pack | Hydraulic | Power | Included | not stated | NAC-1 |
| 5 | Pilot, Reactor 40 | Hydraulic | not stated | Included | Not included | Reactor 40 |
| 6 | Raymarine Ev-200 Hydraulic Pilot with Drive Unit | Hydraulic | not stated | Included | not stated | EV-200 |
| 7 | Raymarine Pilot Ev-200 with P70R Type 1 Hydraulic | Hydraulic | not stated | not stated | Included | EV-200 |
| 8 | Garmin Reactor 40 SmartPump V2 | Hydraulic | not stated | Included | not stated | Reactor 40 |
| 9 | Furuno NAVPILOT 300-OPT | Hydraulic | not stated | not stated | not stated | NavPilot 300 |
| 10 | Raymarine T70250 Ev-100 Evolution Hydraulic Pilot | Hydraulic | not stated | not stated | not stated | EV-100 |
How we picked
The pool for this guide holds 10 listings whose titles say hydraulic or name a SmartPump, each with steering type Hydraulic. The ordering rule places first the listings that name both the drive and the control head in the box, then those that name one of the two, then those that name neither. Inside each tier, the picks follow the order of the pool file. The autopilots are compared on stated details and live prices only; no claim is made about performance that the catalogue cannot support. Counts in the guide come from the pool entries.
How to choose
Start with the steering you already have
Every pick in this guide is for hydraulic steering, as the title says. Confirm that your boat uses a hydraulic helm before choosing any of these. If your boat has tiller, wheel, cable, or mechanical steering, these units are not the right match, and the listing and maker page will confirm the steering type.
Sail or power
Some listings state the boat type in the title. The Raymarine EV-150 and the Simrad NAC-1 say Power. Others do not mention a boat type. If you sail, look for a listing that does not limit to power, but remember the catalogue does not state a hull type beyond that. Match the boat type to the title if it is given.
Complete pack or core pack
A listing that names both the drive and the control head in the box is a complete pack, such as the EV-150 or the Garmin Reactor 40 Corepack. A listing that names only one of the two is a core pack or a partial kit. Decide whether you already have a pump or a head aboard, and choose the pack that fills the missing part.
Control head in the box or bought separately
Some listings include the control head, like the Garmin Compact Reactor 40 with GHC 50. Others, like the Garmin Reactor 40 SmartPump V2, do not. If a head is not named, you will need to buy one separately or use an existing head or chartplotter that can act as a controller. Read the listing to see exactly what is included.
Reading the model line
The model line, such as EV-100, EV-200, Reactor 40, NAC-1, or NavPilot 300, names the family but does not tell you the contents or size of the unit. Two listings can share a line yet differ in what is in the box. Use the title to see whether the drive or control head is present, and do not assume a line means a particular capability.
What this guide leaves out (and why)
The catalogue has no data on boat size, sea state, course accuracy, power draw, or installation. This guide does not guess at those figures. For any of those questions, check the maker's product page and consult a qualified installer. The comparisons here are limited to the details stated in each listing and the live price.
Questions
Do all these autopilots work only with hydraulic steering?
Yes. The pool is limited to listings whose titles say hydraulic or name a SmartPump, and the steering type in each entry is Hydraulic. If your boat uses tiller, wheel, cable, or mechanical steering, these units will not match. Look for a guide that covers your steering type instead.
Some listings don't name a drive. What does that mean?
When a title does not state a drive, the seller has not included a pump in the box. You would need to source a hydraulic pump separately or already have one aboard. Read the listing to confirm what components are included before ordering.
Some listings don't name a control head. What does that mean?
The control head is not included, so you would need to buy one separately or use an existing head or chartplotter that can act as a controller. The title will say whether a head like GHC 50 or P70R is part of the pack. If not, plan for a separate purchase.
Does this guide say which boat size or sea state an autopilot handles?
No. The catalogue has no data for those, so this guide does not guess. The maker's product page and a qualified installer are the right place to check fit for your boat and conditions. The comparisons here are only on stated details and live prices.
How are the picks ordered?
The ordering rule places first the listings that name both drive and control head, then those naming one of the two, then those naming neither. Within each tier, the picks follow the order of the pool file. This way, a complete pack ranks above a core pack or a head-only kit.
Is an autopilot a substitute for a lookout?
No. An autopilot does not replace a lookout. A person stays responsible for the watch at all times. The U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety page offers general guidance on safe boating practices, and that page is cited in the sources of this guide.
Recent updates
- : First published.