Best Marine Autopilot (2026): Marine Autopilot Reviews
The top pick here is the Raymarine EV-100 p70 Tiller Pilot Pack, because it is the only pick whose title names both the drive and the control head in the box, making it a complete tiller pilot for a sailboat. This guide compares marine autopilots on the details stated in each listing and on live prices, so you can see what each pack includes at a glance.
13 picks from 66 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 its own drive and built-in keypad suits a tiller-steered sailboat. The Raymarine ST1000+ and ST2000+ are self-contained units. See pick 13
- For a wheel-steered cruiser: A wheel pilot pack that names the drive in the box, like the Raymarine EV-100 p70 Wheel Pilot Pack, is a direct match for a wheel-steered sailboat. See pick 2
- For a center console with hydraulic steering: A hydraulic autopilot with the pump included, such as the Garmin Compact Reactor 40 Hydraulic Autopilot, is built for boats with hydraulic steering. See pick 4
- For a boat with an electronic helm: A steer-by-wire autopilot like the Garmin Reactor 40 Steer-By-Wire Standard with GHC50 Control is designed for electronic helm systems. See pick 6
The 13 picks
1 Complete tiller pilot with drive and control
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 its title names both the drive and the control head in the box, making it a complete tiller pilot. It is the only pick in the top tier with that combination.
Pros
- Title names the drive in the box
- Title names the control head in the box
- For sailboats with tiller steering
Cons
- No steering type stated beyond tiller
- No boat size or weight stated
Good fit if
- Sailboat owners with tiller steering who want a complete pack
- Buyers who prefer a single box with drive and control
Skip if
- You need a wheel or hydraulic pilot
- You already have a drive and want a core pack
Verdict: A complete tiller pilot pack that names both drive and control head in the box.
2 Wheel pilot with drive and control 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 wheel pilot ranks second because its title names both the drive and the control head in the box, matching the top tier. It is the only wheel pilot here with that complete listing.
Pros
- Title names the drive in the box
- Title names the control head in the box
- For sailboats with wheel steering
Cons
- No steering type stated beyond wheel
- No boat size or weight stated
Good fit if
- Sailboat owners with wheel steering who want a complete pack
- Buyers who want a wheel pilot with control head included
Skip if
- You have tiller steering
- You need a hydraulic or linear drive
Verdict: A wheel pilot pack that names both drive and control head in the box.
3 Power pilot with hydraulic pump and control
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 its title names both the drive (hydraulic pump) and the control head in the box. It is the only power pilot here with that complete listing.
Pros
- Title names the drive in the box
- Title names the control head in the box
- For powerboats with hydraulic steering
Cons
- No boat size or weight stated
- No line name in the title
Good fit if
- Powerboat owners with hydraulic steering who want a complete pack
- Buyers who want a power pilot with pump and control included
Skip if
- You have a sailboat
- You need a tiller or wheel pilot
Verdict: A power pilot pack that names both hydraulic pump and control head in the box.
4 Hydraulic autopilot with control head named
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 fourth because its title names the control head in the box, but not the drive. It is the first Garmin pick in the list, and it is the only compact hydraulic autopilot here.
Pros
- Title names the control head in the box
- For hydraulic steering
- Compact Reactor 40 line
Cons
- Drive not stated in the title
- No boat type stated
Good fit if
- Boat owners with hydraulic steering who want a control head included
- Buyers who prefer a compact hydraulic autopilot
Skip if
- You need a complete pack with drive included
- You have a tiller or wheel steering
Verdict: A hydraulic autopilot with the control head named in the box.
5 Hydraulic corepack with drive and control
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 fifth because its title names both the drive and the control head in the box, but it is a corepack, so it is placed after the complete packs. It is the only Garmin hydraulic corepack here with both named.
Pros
- Title names the drive in the box
- Title names the control head in the box
- For hydraulic steering
Cons
- No boat type stated
- No boat size or weight stated
Good fit if
- Boat owners with hydraulic steering who want a corepack with drive and control
- Buyers who need a complete hydraulic system in one box
Skip if
- You already have a drive and want a core pack without one
- You have a tiller or wheel steering
Verdict: A hydraulic corepack that names both drive and control head in the box.
6 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 sixth because its title names the control head in the box, but not the drive. It is the only steer-by-wire pick here with a control head named.
Pros
- Title names the control head in the box
- For steer-by-wire steering
- Reactor 40 line
Cons
- Drive not stated in the title
- No boat type stated
Good fit if
- Boat owners with electronic steer-by-wire helms who want a control head included
- Buyers who prefer a steer-by-wire autopilot
Skip if
- You have hydraulic or mechanical steering
- You need a complete pack with drive included
Verdict: A steer-by-wire autopilot with the control head named in the box.
7 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 seventh because its title names the control head in the box, but not the drive. It is the only kicker motor autopilot here with a control head named.
Pros
- Title names the control head in the box
- For kicker motor steering
- For powerboats
Cons
- Drive not stated in the title
- No boat size or weight stated
Good fit if
- Powerboat owners with a kicker motor who want a control head included
- Buyers who prefer a kicker motor autopilot
Skip if
- You have a tiller or wheel steering
- You need a complete pack with drive included
Verdict: A kicker motor autopilot with the control head named in the box.
8 Wheel pilot pack for sailboats
Raymarine EV-100 p70 Wheel Pilot Pack
- Steering
- Wheel
- Boat type
- Sail
- Model line
- EV-100
$1,875.07 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks eighth because its title names the steering type (wheel) but not the drive or control head. It is a wheel pilot pack for sailboats, placed after the complete packs.
Pros
- For sailboats with wheel steering
- EV-100 line
- Gray, large size stated
Cons
- Drive not stated in the title
- Control head not stated in the title
Good fit if
- Sailboat owners with wheel steering who want a wheel pilot pack
- Buyers who prefer the EV-100 line
Skip if
- You need a complete pack with drive and control named
- You have tiller steering
Verdict: A wheel pilot pack for sailboats, with steering type stated but not drive or control.
9 Tiller pilot pack for sailboats
Raymarine EV-100 p70 Tiller Pilot Pack
- Steering
- Tiller
- Boat type
- Sail
- Model line
- EV-100
$1,839.55 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks ninth because its title names the steering type (tiller) but not the drive or control head. It is a tiller pilot pack for sailboats, placed after the wheel pilot pack.
Pros
- For sailboats with tiller steering
- EV-100 line
- Gray, large size stated
Cons
- Drive not stated in the title
- Control head not stated in the title
Good fit if
- Sailboat owners with tiller steering who want a tiller pilot pack
- Buyers who prefer the EV-100 line
Skip if
- You need a complete pack with drive and control named
- You have wheel steering
Verdict: A tiller pilot pack for sailboats, with steering type stated but not drive or control.
10 Hydraulic pilot with drive named
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)
This pick ranks tenth because its title names the drive in the box, but not the control head. It is a hydraulic pilot with a drive unit, placed after the packs that name the control head.
Pros
- Title names the drive in the box
- For hydraulic steering
- EV-200 line
Cons
- Control head not stated in the title
- No boat type stated
Good fit if
- Boat owners with hydraulic steering who want a drive included
- Buyers who prefer the EV-200 line
Skip if
- You need a control head in the box
- You have a tiller or wheel steering
Verdict: A hydraulic pilot with the drive named in the box, but no control head stated.
11 Outboard hydraulic pilot with drive
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)
This pick ranks eleventh because its title names the drive in the box, but not the control head. It is an outboard hydraulic pilot for powerboats, placed after the hydraulic pilot with drive.
Pros
- Title names the drive in the box
- For hydraulic steering
- For powerboats
Cons
- Control head not stated in the title
- No boat size or weight stated
Good fit if
- Powerboat owners with hydraulic steering who want a drive included
- Buyers who prefer the NAC-1 line
Skip if
- You need a control head in the box
- You have a tiller or wheel steering
Verdict: An outboard hydraulic pilot with the drive named in the box, but no control head stated.
12 Hydraulic smartpump with drive named
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)
This pick ranks twelfth because its title names the drive in the box, but not the control head. It is a hydraulic smartpump for boats with hydraulic steering, placed after the outboard hydraulic pilot.
Pros
- Title names the drive in the box
- For hydraulic steering
- Reactor 40 line
Cons
- Control head not stated in the title
- No boat type stated
Good fit if
- Boat owners with hydraulic steering who want a drive included
- Buyers who prefer the Reactor 40 line
Skip if
- You need a control head in the box
- You have a tiller or wheel steering
Verdict: A hydraulic smartpump with the drive named in the box, but no control head stated.
13 Self-contained tiller pilot
Raymarine St1000+ 3.3-Ton Tiller Pilot
- Steering
- Tiller
- Boat type
- Sail
- Drive in the box
- Included
- Control head
- Built in
- Model line
- ST1000+
$528.93 price as of 2026-10-11 18:41 UTC (Details)
This pick ranks thirteenth because its title names the drive and control as built in, but it is a tiller pilot with a built-in keypad, so it is placed after the packs that name the control head separately. It is the first ST1000+ pick here.
Pros
- Drive included in the unit
- Control built in
- For sailboats with tiller steering
Cons
- No separate control head
- No boat size or weight stated
Good fit if
- Sailboat owners with tiller steering who want a self-contained unit
- Buyers who prefer a tiller pilot with built-in keypad
Skip if
- You need a separate control head
- You have wheel or hydraulic steering
Verdict: A self-contained tiller pilot with drive and control built in.
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 Compact Reactor 40 Hydraulic Autopilot | Hydraulic | not stated | not stated | Included | Reactor 40 |
| 5 | Garmin Reactor 40 Hydraulic Corepack | Hydraulic | not stated | Included | Included | Reactor 40 |
| 6 | Garmin Reactor 40 Autopilot Steer-By-Wire Standard with GHC50 Control | Steer-by-wire | not stated | not stated | Included | Reactor 40 |
| 7 | Garmin Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot w/GHC 50 Stainless Steel Tilt Tube | Kicker motor | Power | not stated | Included | Reactor 40 |
| 8 | Raymarine EV-100 p70 Wheel Pilot Pack | Wheel | Sail | not stated | not stated | EV-100 |
| 9 | Raymarine EV-100 p70 Tiller Pilot Pack | Tiller | Sail | not stated | not stated | EV-100 |
| 10 | Raymarine Ev-200 Hydraulic Pilot with Drive Unit | Hydraulic | not stated | Included | not stated | EV-200 |
| 11 | Simrad NAC-1 Outboard Pilot Hydraulic Pack | Hydraulic | Power | Included | not stated | NAC-1 |
| 12 | Garmin Reactor 40 SmartPump V2 | Hydraulic | not stated | Included | not stated | Reactor 40 |
| 13 | Raymarine St1000+ 3.3-Ton Tiller Pilot | Tiller | Sail | Included | Built in | ST1000+ |
How we picked
This guide draws from a pool of 66 priced marine autopilot listings, from which 13 picks were chosen. The picks are ranked first by listings whose title names both the drive and the control head in the box (or a tiller pilot with its built-in keypad), then those that name one of the two, then those that name neither. Inside each tier, picks follow the order in the pool file. The guide keeps a spread: at most 5 picks from any one maker, and at least one from every maker whose listings are in the pool while room allows. All autopilots are compared on stated details and live prices.
How to choose
Start with the steering you already have
The first decision is matching the autopilot to your boat's own steering. The catalogue lists steering types such as tiller, wheel, hydraulic, mechanical, linear drive, steer-by-wire, and kicker motor. Read the listing title to see which steering it names, and confirm that it matches your boat before you buy.
Sail or power
Autopilots are often sold for sailboats or powerboats. Tiller and wheel pilots are cockpit units for sailboats, while hydraulic and steer-by-wire units may be for powerboats. The title states the boat type when it is known. If the title does not say, the seller has not stated it.
Complete pack or core pack
A complete pack names the drive or pump in the box, so you get the part that moves the steering. A core pack is sold without a drive, for a boat that already has one or needs one chosen for its steering. Read the listing to see what is included.
Control head in the box or bought separately
Some packs name the control head in the box, so you have the display and buttons to operate the autopilot. Others do not, meaning the control head is bought separately. A tiller pilot has its keypad built in, so there is no separate control head.
Reading the model line
The model line, such as EV-100, Reactor 40, or AP44, is a name on the listing. It tells you which family the autopilot belongs to, but this guide does not claim what one line does better than another. Use the line name to compare listings from the same maker.
What this guide leaves out (and why)
This guide compares autopilots on the details stated in each listing and on live prices. It does not guess at course-holding accuracy, power draw, noise, or which boat size a unit suits, because the catalogue has no data for those. Check the maker's page and a qualified installer for those questions.
Questions
Does this guide say which boat size or sea state an autopilot handles?
No. The catalogue has no data for boat size, displacement, or sea state. The guide compares autopilots on stated details like steering type, boat type, and what is in the box. For fit and performance questions, check the maker's product page and talk to a qualified installer.
What does 'drive included' mean in a listing?
When a title names the drive or pump in the box, the autopilot comes with the part that moves the steering. A tiller or wheel pilot is its own drive. When a title does not name a drive, it is a core pack for a boat that already has a drive or needs one chosen for its steering.
Can I use a tiller pilot on a wheel-steered boat?
A tiller pilot is sold for tiller steering, and a wheel pilot is sold for wheel steering. The title states the steering type when it is known. If your boat has wheel steering, look for a wheel pilot or a hydraulic autopilot, and confirm the match on the maker's page.
What is a core pack?
A core pack is an autopilot sold without a drive. It is for an owner who already has a drive aboard or will choose one separately. The title may name the control head, but not the drive. Read the listing to see exactly what is in the box.
How are the picks ranked in this guide?
Picks are ranked first by listings whose title names 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, picks follow the order in the pool file. Prices are shown live but do not affect the ranking.
Is an autopilot a substitute for a lookout?
No. An autopilot never replaces 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, and you should follow it.
Recent updates
- : First published.