Best Powerboat Autopilot (2026): Marine Autopilot Reviews
The best powerboat autopilot is the EV-150 Power Pilot with p70Rs Control Head, because it is the only pick here whose title names both the drive and the control head in the box, making it a complete package for hydraulic steering. This guide compares 10 powerboat autopilots on stated details and live prices, ranked by completeness of the pack.
10 picks from 10 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 powerboat with hydraulic steering: The EV-150 Power Pilot names a hydraulic pump and a control head in the box, suiting owners who want a complete pack for hydraulic steering. See pick 1
- For a cable-steered outboard: The Lowrance Outboard Autopilot System is titled for cable steered vessels, matching mechanical steering on many outboard boats. See pick 5
- For a boat with a kicker motor: The Garmin Reactor 40 Kicker Autopilot with GHC 50 includes a control head and is titled for kicker motor steering. See pick 2
- For an owner who already has a drive: The Raymarine Pilot EV-200 A/P with P70R names no drive in the box, suiting boats that already have a drive or need one chosen separately. See pick 10
The 10 picks
1 Complete hydraulic pack with 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 first because its title names both the hydraulic pump and the p70Rs control head in the box, making it the only listing here with both drive and control included. That completeness places it above all other picks under the ordering rule.
Pros
- Drive included: title names a 1.0L hydraulic pump
- Control head included: p70Rs named in the box
- Line EV-150 as stated in the title
- Steering type hydraulic as stated
Cons
- No boat size or weight stated in the listing
- No details on the EV1 sensor core beyond the name
Good fit if
- Powerboats with hydraulic steering
- Owners who want a complete pack with control head
Skip if
- Boats with mechanical or cable steering
- Owners who already have a drive and need a core pack
Verdict: The EV-150 Power Pilot is the top pick for its complete hydraulic pack with control head.
2 Kicker autopilot with control head included
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 Garmin Reactor 40 ranks second because its title names the GHC 50 control head in the box, placing it in the tier with one of the two key components. It is the only kicker motor pick here with a control head named.
Pros
- Control head included: GHC 50 named in the title
- Steering type kicker motor as stated
- Line Reactor 40 as stated
- Stainless steel tilt tube named in the title
Cons
- Drive not stated as included in the box
- No boat size or weight stated
Good fit if
- Boats with a kicker motor for auxiliary steering
- Owners who want a control head in the pack
Skip if
- Boats with hydraulic or mechanical steering
- Owners who need a drive included in the box
Verdict: A strong kicker motor pick with a control head included, but no drive named.
3 Hydraulic pack with drive included
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 Simrad NAC-1 ranks third because its title names the hydraulic pump in the box, placing it in the tier with one of the two key components. It is the only hydraulic pick here with a drive included but no control head named.
Pros
- Drive included: Mkii PUMP-1 named in the title
- Steering type hydraulic as stated
- Line NAC-1 as stated
- Includes POINT-1 AP as named
Cons
- Control head not stated in the box
- No boat size or weight stated
Good fit if
- Powerboats with hydraulic steering
- Owners who need a drive but already have a control head
Skip if
- Boats with mechanical or kicker steering
- Owners who want a control head included
Verdict: A hydraulic pack with a drive included, but the control head is not named.
4 Power pack with control head included
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 Raymarine EV-100 ranks fourth because its title names the p70R control head in the box, placing it in the tier with one of the two key components. It is the only EV-100 pick here with a control head named.
Pros
- Control head included: p70R named in the title
- Line EV-100 as stated
- Boat type power as stated
Cons
- Drive not stated as included in the box
- Steering type not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Powerboats where the steering type is already known
- Owners who want a control head in the pack
Skip if
- Boats with hydraulic steering needing a drive
- Owners who need the steering type confirmed
Verdict: An EV-100 power pack with a control head, but no drive or steering type stated.
5 Mechanical steering autopilot for outboards
Lowrance 000-11749-001 Outboard Autopilot System for Cable Steered
- Steering
- Mechanical
- Boat type
- Power
$1,539.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This Lowrance ranks fifth because its title names neither a drive nor a control head in the box, placing it in the tier with neither component. It is the only pick here titled for cable steered vessels.
Pros
- Steering type mechanical as stated
- Boat type power as stated
- Titled for cable steered vessels
Cons
- Drive not stated as included in the box
- Control head not stated in the box
- No model line named in the title
Good fit if
- Outboard boats with cable steering
- Owners who already have a control head or drive
Skip if
- Boats with hydraulic or kicker steering
- Owners who want a complete pack with control head
Verdict: A mechanical steering autopilot for cable steered vessels, but with no drive or control head named.
6 Kicker autopilot without 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 Garmin Reactor 40 ranks sixth because its title names neither a drive nor a control head in the box, placing it in the tier with neither component. It is a kicker motor pick without a control head named.
Pros
- Steering type kicker motor as stated
- Line Reactor 40 as stated
- Boat type power as stated
Cons
- Control head not included: title says without GHC 20
- Drive not stated as included in the box
Good fit if
- Boats with a kicker motor
- Owners who already have a control head
Skip if
- Owners who want a control head in the pack
- Boats with hydraulic or mechanical steering
Verdict: A kicker motor autopilot without a control head, for owners who already have one.
7 Kicker autopilot with stainless tilt tube
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 Garmin Reactor 40 ranks seventh because its title names neither a drive nor a control head in the box, placing it in the tier with neither component. It is similar to the other Reactor 40 kicker pick but without a control head.
Pros
- Steering type kicker motor as stated
- Line Reactor 40 as stated
- Stainless steel tilt tube named in the title
Cons
- Control head not stated in the box
- Drive not stated as included in the box
Good fit if
- Boats with a kicker motor
- Owners who want a stainless tilt tube
Skip if
- Owners who want a control head included
- Boats with hydraulic or mechanical steering
Verdict: A kicker motor autopilot with a stainless tilt tube, but no control head or drive named.
8 EV-400 line power autopilot
Raymarine EV-400 Power Evolution Autopilot
- Boat type
- Power
- Model line
- EV-400
$2,799.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
This Raymarine EV-400 ranks eighth because its title names neither a drive nor a control head in the box, placing it in the tier with neither component. It is the only EV-400 pick here.
Pros
- Line EV-400 as stated
- Boat type power as stated
- Raymarine brand as stated
Cons
- Drive not stated as included in the box
- Control head not stated in the box
- Steering type not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Powerboats where the steering type is already known
- Owners who want the EV-400 line
Skip if
- Owners who need a drive or control head included
- Boats with unknown steering type
Verdict: An EV-400 power autopilot with no drive or control head named.
9 EV-100 power autopilot without extras
Raymarine EV-100 Power Evolution Autopilot by Raymarine
- Boat type
- Power
- Model line
- EV-100
$1,764.29 price as of 2026-10-11 18:32 UTC (Details)
This Raymarine EV-100 ranks ninth because its title names neither a drive nor a control head in the box, placing it in the tier with neither component. It is similar to the other EV-100 pick but without a control head.
Pros
- Line EV-100 as stated
- Boat type power as stated
- Raymarine brand as stated
Cons
- Drive not stated as included in the box
- Control head not stated in the box
- Steering type not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Powerboats where the steering type is already known
- Owners who want the EV-100 line
Skip if
- Owners who need a drive or control head included
- Boats with unknown steering type
Verdict: An EV-100 power autopilot with no drive or control head named.
10 EV-200 power autopilot with no drive
Raymarine Pilot Ev-200 A/P with P70R No Drive
- Boat type
- Power
- Model line
- EV-200
$2,399.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:41 UTC (Details)
This Raymarine EV-200 ranks tenth because its title names neither a drive nor a control head in the box, placing it in the tier with neither component. The title explicitly says no drive.
Pros
- Line EV-200 as stated
- Boat type power as stated
- Raymarine brand as stated
Cons
- Drive not included: title says no drive
- Control head not stated in the box
- Steering type not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Powerboats that already have a drive
- Owners who want the EV-200 line
Skip if
- Owners who need a drive included
- Boats with unknown steering type
Verdict: An EV-200 power autopilot with no drive, for boats that already have one.
Side by side
How we picked
This guide draws from a pool of 10 powerboat autopilots, each compared on the details stated in its listing: steering type, boat type, whether the drive is included, whether the control head is included, and the model line. The ordering rule ranks picks first by listings whose title names both the drive and the control head in the box (or a tiller pilot with built-in keypad), then those naming one of the two, then those naming neither, and inside each tier by the order in the pool file. The top pick is the EV-150 Power Pilot, the only unit here with both drive and control head named. All autopilots are compared on stated details and live prices, with no claims beyond what the listings state.
How to choose
Start with the steering you already have
The first decision for a powerboat autopilot is matching the boat's own steering. The listings here name hydraulic, mechanical, and kicker motor steering. A hydraulic steering boat needs a hydraulic pump, a cable steered boat needs a mechanical drive, and a kicker motor boat uses a unit made for that steering. Confirm the boat's steering type on the maker's page and with the listing before choosing.
Sail or power
All picks in this guide are titled for powerboats, so the boat type is power as stated. Tiller and wheel pilots are cockpit units for sailboats, but none of these listings are tiller or wheel types. The powerboat designation is a starting point, not a fit claim for a specific hull.
Complete pack or core pack
A listing that names the drive or pump in the box is a complete pack for a boat that needs that drive. A core pack, like the Raymarine Pilot EV-200 A/P with P70R No Drive, is for a boat that already has a drive or needs one chosen for its steering. Read the listing to see what is included, because the title states it.
Control head in the box or bought separately
Some listings name the control head in the box, like the EV-150 Power Pilot with p70Rs, while others do not. A control head is the interface for operating the autopilot. If the title does not name one, the control head is bought separately. Check the listing for the contents.
Reading the model line
The model line, such as EV-100, EV-150, EV-200, EV-400, or Reactor 40, is a name on the listing. It does not by itself say which boat size or steering system a unit suits. Use the line as a reference, but rely on the stated steering type and included components for the match.
What this guide leaves out (and why)
This guide compares autopilots on stated details and live prices only. It does not claim course-holding accuracy, power draw, noise, or suitability for a specific boat length or sea state, because the catalogue has no data for them. For those details, consult the maker's page and a qualified installer.
Questions
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, so this guide does not guess. The maker's page and a qualified installer are the place to check for fit and conditions. The guide compares autopilots on stated details and live prices only.
What does it mean when a listing says 'no drive'?
A listing that says 'no drive' means the title does not name a drive or pump in the box. That is a core pack for a boat that already has a drive or needs one chosen for its steering. Read the listing to confirm the contents.
How do I know if a control head is included?
If the title names a control head, such as the p70Rs or GHC 50, it is included in the box. If the title does not name one, the control head is bought separately. The listing states the contents, so check it before buying.
Can this guide tell me which autopilot is easiest to install?
No. The catalogue has no data on installation time or ease. The guide compares autopilots on stated details and live prices only. For installation guidance, consult the maker's page and a qualified installer.
What is the difference between hydraulic and mechanical steering for autopilots?
Hydraulic steering uses a hydraulic pump to move the rudder, and a hydraulic autopilot includes a pump that connects to that system. Mechanical steering uses cables or rods, and a mechanical autopilot is made for that type. The listings state the steering type, so match it to the boat's system.
Recent updates
- : First published.