Best Kicker Motor Autopilot (2026): 3 Picks Compared
The top pick is the Garmin Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot with the GHC 50 stainless steel tilt tube, the only pick here that names the control head in the box. This guide compares the three kicker motor autopilots in the pool on the details each listing states: steering type, boat type, control head in the box, and model line, alongside the live price shown on the page. A person on watch stays responsible for the boat; the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety page is a general reference for safe operation.
3 picks from 3 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
| # | Pick | Marine autopilot | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Only pick with the control head in the box | Garmin Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot w/GHC 50 Stainless Steel Tilt Tube | $2,999.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details) |
| 2 | Explicitly sold without a control head | Garmin 010-00705-95 Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot Without GHC 20 | $2,349.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details) |
| 3 | Tilt tube named, control head not stated | Garmin Kicker Autopilot Reactor 40 with Stainless Steel Tilt Tube | $2,399.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details) |
Which one should you buy?
- For a powerboat with a kicker motor: An owner with a kicker motor who wants the control head in the same purchase will find the top pick names the GHC 50 control head in the box. See pick 1
- For an owner with a control head already: If a GHC control head is already aboard, the pick titled without the GHC 20 control display suits a purchase that does not duplicate the head. See pick 2
- For an owner who wants the tilt tube in the title: An owner focused on the stainless steel tilt tube shown in the title will read the listing for the control head, which the title does not state. See pick 3
The 3 picks
1 Only pick with the control head in the box
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 first because its title names the GHC 50 control head in the box, a detail neither of the other listings provides. The Reactor 40 line is stated for a kicker motor on a power boat, and the stainless steel tilt tube is named in the title.
Pros
- GHC 50 control head named in the box
- Stainless steel tilt tube named in the title
- Reactor 40 line for a kicker motor
- Power boat autopilot
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- Control head is the only component named beyond the tilt tube
Good fit if
- For a powerboat owner with a kicker motor who wants the control head in the same purchase
- For an owner who prefers the stainless steel tilt tube named in the title
Skip if
- For an owner who already has a control head and wants a kit without one
- For an owner who wants a listing that names a drive in the box
Verdict: The one kicker autopilot here that names the control head in the box, for a powerboat with a kicker motor.
2 Explicitly sold without a control head
Garmin 010-00705-95 Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot Without GHC 20
- Steering
- Kicker motor
- Boat type
- Power
- Control head
- Not included
- Model line
- Reactor 40
$2,349.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks second because its title states that it is sold without the GHC 20 control display, which tells an owner the control head is bought separately. The Reactor 40 line for a kicker motor on a power boat is the same as the top pick, but no tilt tube is named.
Pros
- Title states it is sold without the GHC 20 control display
- Reactor 40 line for a kicker motor
- Power boat autopilot
Cons
- Control head not included
- Drive not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- For an owner who already has a control head and wants a kicker autopilot without buying one again
- For an owner who wants the Reactor 40 line without the GHC 50 name
Skip if
- For an owner who needs a control head in the same box
- For an owner who wants the stainless steel tilt tube named in the title
Verdict: A Reactor 40 kicker autopilot for an owner who supplies the control head separately.
3 Tilt tube named, control head not stated
Garmin Kicker Autopilot Reactor 40 with Stainless Steel Tilt Tube
- Steering
- Kicker motor
- Boat type
- Power
- Model line
- Reactor 40
$2,399.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks third because its title names the stainless steel tilt tube but does not state whether a control head is included. Among the three, it leaves the most to the listing details.
Pros
- Stainless steel tilt tube named in the title
- Reactor 40 line for a kicker motor
- Power boat autopilot
Cons
- Control head not stated by the seller
- Drive not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- For an owner who focuses on the stainless steel tilt tube named in the title
- For an owner who will read the listing to confirm the control head
Skip if
- For an owner who wants a control head named in the box
- For an owner who needs to know the control head situation before reading the listing
Verdict: A tilt tube-named kicker autopilot that leaves the control head question to the listing.
Side by side
| # | Marine autopilot | Steering | Boat type | Drive in the box | Control head | Model line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garmin Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot w/GHC 50 Stainless Steel Tilt Tube | Kicker motor | Power | not stated | Included | Reactor 40 |
| 2 | Garmin 010-00705-95 Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot Without GHC 20 | Kicker motor | Power | not stated | Not included | Reactor 40 |
| 3 | Garmin Kicker Autopilot Reactor 40 with Stainless Steel Tilt Tube | Kicker motor | Power | not stated | not stated | Reactor 40 |
How we picked
The pool holds three kicker motor autopilot listings, all from Garmin in the Reactor 40 line. The shortlist rule is the whole pool: every listing whose title names a kicker motor autopilot kit with steering stated as kicker motor. The autopilots are compared on stated details and live prices. The picks are ordered first by listings that name the control head in the box, then by listings that name the absence of a control head, then by listings that state neither; inside each tier the pool order is kept. No pick is ranked by price or popularity.
How to choose
Start with the steering you already have
An autopilot is tied to the steering system it moves. For this pool, every listing states steering as a kicker motor, so the first step is confirming that a kicker motor is what the boat uses. The listing is the place to check the exact contents before buying.
Control head in the box or bought separately
One listing names the GHC 50 control head in the box. Another states that it is sold without the GHC 20 control display. The third does not say whether a control head is included. An owner who already has a control head can look at the second pick; an owner who needs one can look at the first. Read the listing for each.
Stainless steel tilt tube
Two listings name a stainless steel tilt tube in the title. The tilt tube is part of the kicker autopilot kit, but the catalog does not describe how it works. Confirm with the listing what else is in the box.
Reading the model line
All three picks carry the Reactor 40 line name. The line name tells an owner which family the autopilot belongs to, not what it can do for a particular hull. The maker's page is the place to check details the listing does not cover.
What this guide leaves out
The catalog has no data for boat size, displacement, sea conditions, power draw, or course accuracy. This guide does not guess at those, and none of the picks are ranked by them. For those questions, a qualified installer and the maker's page are the right references.
Questions
What is a kicker motor autopilot?
A kicker motor autopilot is a kit whose listing states steering as a kicker motor. The three picks here are all in the Garmin Reactor 40 line for power boats. The listing is the place to see what comes in the box; this guide compares the stated details and live prices only.
Which pick includes a control head in the box?
The top pick, the Garmin Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot with the GHC 50 stainless steel tilt tube, is the only listing that names a control head in the box. The second pick states that it is sold without the GHC 20 control display, and the third does not state a control head at all.
Does this guide say which boat size a kicker autopilot suits?
No. The catalog has no data for boat length, displacement, or hull type beyond the power boat label in the listings. A qualified installer and the maker's page are the places to confirm fit for a specific boat.
What is the stainless steel tilt tube?
Two listings name a stainless steel tilt tube in the title. The catalog does not describe how the tilt tube works or what it does. The listing is the place to see what the kit contains, and the maker's page can explain the part.
How are the picks ordered here?
The picks are ordered by a stated rule: a listing that names the control head in the box ranks first, a listing that names the absence of a control head ranks second, and a listing that states neither ranks third. Pool order is kept within each tier. Price and popularity do not affect the order.
Can this guide tell me how the autopilot handles rough water?
No. The catalog has no data for sea behavior, response, or accuracy. This guide compares only the details each listing states, and the maker's page and a qualified installer are the references for those questions.
Recent updates
- : First published.