Best Simrad Autopilot in 2026: 9 Picks Compared
The top pick in this Simrad autopilot review is the Simrad TP10 Tiller Pilot. Its title names a tiller-steered sailboat, a drive in the box and a control built into the unit, the most complete pack in the pool. This guide compares all nine Simrad autopilots on stated details and live prices, ranked first by pack completeness, then by pool order.
9 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 tiller-steered sailboat: The TP10 and TP22 are the two picks whose titles name a sailboat, a tiller and a drive built into the unit. If the boat steers with a tiller, these are the Simrad picks to start with. See pick 1
- For a boat with hydraulic steering: The NAC-1 Outboard Pilot Hydraulic Pack is the only Simrad pick whose title names hydraulic steering and a power boat. The title also names PUMP-1 in the box. See pick 6
- For an owner who already has a drive aboard: The three core packs (NAC-3, NAC-2 with feedback, NAC-2 with virtual feedback) list a drive as not included. These suit an owner who keeps or chooses a drive separately. See pick 7
- For an owner who wants a control head named in the pack: The AP44, A2004 and AP70 packs each name a control head in the title. If the control head coming in the box is the deciding detail, these three are where to look. See pick 3
The 9 picks
1 Self-contained tiller pilot with built-in control
Simrad TP10 Tiller Pilot
- Steering
- Tiller
- Boat type
- Sail
- Drive in the box
- Included
- Control head
- Built in
- Model line
- TP10
$571.00 price as of 2026-10-11 18:41 UTC (Details)
The TP10 is the top pick because its title names a tiller pilot for a sailboat, a drive in the box and a control built into the unit. It is the first of the two complete tiller pilots in the pool.
Pros
- Title names a sailboat and tiller steering
- Drive included: the tiller pilot is its own drive
- Control built into the unit
- Line name TP10 stated in the title
Cons
- Sold for tiller steering only
- Control is built in, not a separate head
Good fit if
- Sailboat owners whose boat steers with a tiller
- Owners who want the drive and control in one unit
Skip if
- Owners of wheel-steered or hydraulic-steered boats
- Owners who want a separate control head at another station
Verdict: The TP10 is the most complete Simrad tiller pilot in this pool, with the drive and built-in control both named in the title.
2 Tiller pilot with built-in control
Simrad TP22 Tiller Pilot
- Steering
- Tiller
- Boat type
- Sail
- Drive in the box
- Included
- Control head
- Built in
- Model line
- TP22
$707.00 price as of 2026-10-11 18:40 UTC (Details)
The TP22 is the second pick because it shares the complete-pack details of the TP10: a tiller pilot, a drive in the box and built-in control. It follows the TP10 in the pool order.
Pros
- Title names a sailboat and tiller steering
- Drive included: the tiller pilot is its own drive
- Control built into the unit
- Line name TP22 stated in the title
Cons
- Sold for tiller steering only
- Control is built in, not a separate head
Good fit if
- Sailboat owners with tiller steering
- Owners who want a complete tiller pilot in one box
Skip if
- Owners of power boats or hydraulic-steered boats
- Owners who want a separate control head
Verdict: The TP22 matches the TP10 on complete-pack details and sits directly behind it in this list.
3 Control head named in the pack
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)
The AP44 VRF is the first tier-two pick: its title names a control head in the pack but no drive. Among the tier-two listings, it leads by the pool order.
Pros
- Title names the control head in the pack
- Line name AP44 stated in the title
- One of three tier-two picks with a control head named
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- Boat type not stated by the seller
- Steering type not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Owners who want a control head named in the pack
- Owners who will confirm the drive contents from the listing
Skip if
- Owners who need the drive named in the title
- Owners who need boat type or steering type stated in the title
Verdict: The AP44 VRF leads the tier-two Simrad picks with a control head named in the pack.
4 Control head named, no compass stated
Simrad A2004 Autopilot Pack
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- A2004
$3,349.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:39 UTC (Details)
The A2004 is the second tier-two pick, with a control head named in the pack and no compass stated. It ranks after the AP44 by the pool order.
Pros
- Title names the control head in the pack
- Line name A2004 stated in the title
- Title states the pack has no compass
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- Boat type not stated by the seller
- Compass not included according to the title
Good fit if
- Owners who want a control head named in the pack
- Owners who have a heading source and do not need a compass in the pack
Skip if
- Owners who need a compass named in the pack
- Owners who need the drive named in the title
Verdict: The A2004 names a control head and states no compass in the pack, ranking fourth by the pool order.
5 Control head named in basic pack
Simrad AP70 MK2 Pack
- Control head
- Included
- Model line
- AP70
$4,081.60 price as of 2026-10-11 18:39 UTC (Details)
The AP70 MK2 basic pack is the third tier-two pick to name a control head. It follows the A2004 in the pool order.
Pros
- Title names the control head in the pack
- Line name AP70 MK2 stated in the title
- Title names a basic pack
Cons
- Drive not stated by the seller
- Boat type not stated by the seller
- Steering type not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Owners who want a control head named in the pack
- Owners who will check the listing for the drive contents
Skip if
- Owners who need the drive named in the title
- Owners who need a boat type stated in the title
Verdict: The AP70 MK2 basic pack names a control head and ranks fifth among the tier-two picks.
6 Hydraulic power pack with drive named
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)
The NAC-1 is the last tier-two pick; its title names a drive and hydraulic steering for a power boat, but no control head. It closes the tier-two block by the pool order.
Pros
- Title names a drive in the box (PUMP-1)
- Title names hydraulic steering
- Title names a power boat
- Line name NAC-1 stated in the title
Cons
- Control head not stated by the seller
- Sold for hydraulic steering and power boats only
Good fit if
- Power boat owners with hydraulic steering
- Owners who want a drive named in the pack
Skip if
- Owners of tiller-steered sailboats
- Owners who want a control head named in the title
Verdict: The NAC-1 is the only Simrad pick whose title names hydraulic steering, a power boat and a drive.
7 Core pack with N2K starter named
Simrad NAC-3
- Drive in the box
- Not included
- Model line
- NAC-3
$2,299.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:41 UTC (Details)
The NAC-3 is the first tier-three pick: its title names neither a drive nor a control head. It leads the three core packs by the pool order.
Pros
- Line name NAC-3 stated in the title
- Title names Precision-9 and an N2K starter kit
- Core pack: title names the VRF core pack
Cons
- Drive not included per the listing
- Control head not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Owners who already have a drive aboard
- Owners who want a Precision-9 and N2K starter named in the title
Skip if
- Owners who need a drive in the box
- Owners who need a control head named in the title
Verdict: The NAC-3 core pack leads the tier-three selections with a Precision-9 and N2K starter named in the title.
8 Core pack with feedback named
Simrad 000-13335-001 Pilot
- Drive in the box
- Not included
- Model line
- NAC-2
$1,789.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:32 UTC (Details)
The NAC-2 core pack with feedback is the second tier-three pick. Like the NAC-3, it names no drive and no control head; it follows the NAC-3 by the pool order.
Pros
- Line name NAC-2 stated in the title
- Title names feedback
- Core pack: drive not included per the listing
Cons
- Drive not included per the listing
- Control head not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Owners who already have a drive aboard
- Owners who want feedback named in the title
Skip if
- Owners who need a drive in the box
- Owners who need a control head named in the title
Verdict: The NAC-2 core pack with feedback ranks eighth, the second of three core packs.
9 Core pack with virtual feedback named
Simrad 000-13337-001 Pilot
- Drive in the box
- Not included
- Model line
- NAC-2
$1,479.99 price as of 2026-10-11 18:32 UTC (Details)
The NAC-2 core pack with virtual feedback is the last pick, the third tier-three listing. It shares the core-pack details of the other NAC-2 and follows it in the pool order.
Pros
- Line name NAC-2 stated in the title
- Title names virtual feedback
- Core pack: drive not included per the listing
Cons
- Drive not included per the listing
- Control head not stated by the seller
Good fit if
- Owners who already have a drive aboard
- Owners who want virtual feedback named in the title
Skip if
- Owners who need a drive in the box
- Owners who need a control head named in the title
Verdict: The NAC-2 core pack with virtual feedback closes this Simrad list, the last of three core packs.
Side by side
| # | Marine autopilot | Steering | Boat type | Drive in the box | Control head | Model line |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simrad TP10 Tiller Pilot | Tiller | Sail | Included | Built in | TP10 |
| 2 | Simrad TP22 Tiller Pilot | Tiller | Sail | Included | Built in | TP22 |
| 3 | Simrad 000-13291-002 Ap44 Vrf Medium Capacity Autopilot Pack | not stated | not stated | not stated | Included | AP44 |
| 4 | Simrad A2004 Autopilot Pack | not stated | not stated | not stated | Included | A2004 |
| 5 | Simrad AP70 MK2 Pack | not stated | not stated | not stated | Included | AP70 |
| 6 | Simrad NAC-1 Outboard Pilot Hydraulic Pack | Hydraulic | Power | Included | not stated | NAC-1 |
| 7 | Simrad NAC-3 | not stated | not stated | Not included | not stated | NAC-3 |
| 8 | Simrad 000-13335-001 Pilot | not stated | not stated | Not included | not stated | NAC-2 |
| 9 | Simrad 000-13337-001 Pilot | not stated | not stated | Not included | not stated | NAC-2 |
How we picked
Simrad autopilot reviews on this page are drawn from a pool of nine Simrad listings, sold under the maker name Simrad. Each autopilot is compared on the details stated in its listing: steering type, boat type, whether the title names the drive or pump in the box, whether the title names a control head or the unit has built-in control, and the model line. The listings are ranked by the completeness of the pack: first, listings whose titles name both the drive and the control head in the box, or a tiller pilot with built-in control; second, listings that name one of the two; last, listings that name neither. Inside each tier, picks follow the order of the pool. Live prices are printed with each listing; the guide never ranks by price. A person aboard stays responsible for the watch; the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety page covers general boating safety.
How to choose
Start with the steering you already have
The first decision is matching the autopilot to the boat's own steering. In this pool, the TP10 and TP22 are tiller pilots for sailboats, and the NAC-1 is a hydraulic pack for a power boat. The other listings do not state a steering type. Confirm the boat's steering on the maker's page and with the listing.
Sail or power
Two listings in this pool state a boat type: the tiller pilots are for sailboats, and the NAC-1 is for a power boat. The rest do not state a boat type. Match the stated boat type to your own boat before choosing.
Complete pack or core pack
A complete pack, in the sense used here, is a listing whose title names a drive or pump in the box. The TP10, TP22 and NAC-1 are the picks whose titles name a drive; the tiller pilots are their own drive. The three NAC-2 and NAC-3 core packs list the drive as not included. Read the listing for the contents before deciding.
Control head in the box or bought separately
Some listings name a control head in the pack, and a tiller pilot has its control built into the unit. The AP44, A2004 and AP70 packs name a control head; the TP10 and TP22 have built-in control. The core packs do not state a control head. Check the listing for what is in the box.
Reading the model line
Each listing carries a model line in its title: TP10, TP22, AP44, AP70, NAC-1, NAC-2, NAC-3 or A2004. The line name tells a buyer which model the listing is, and no more. This guide never claims that one line steers better than another, so confirm the details that matter to you on the maker's page.
What this guide leaves out (and why)
This guide compares autopilots on the details each listing states and on live prices. The catalogue has no data for fit by boat size, course-holding accuracy, behaviour in waves, power draw, noise, reliability or installation time. For those, check the maker's page and talk to a qualified installer.
Questions
Does this guide say which boat size or sea state a Simrad autopilot handles?
No. The catalogue has no data for boat size, sea state, course-holding accuracy, power draw or installation time. This guide compares only the details each listing states. Those questions belong to the maker's page and a qualified installer, not to this page.
What does drive included mean in this guide?
Drive included means the title names the drive or pump in the box. A tiller pilot is its own drive, so the TP10 and TP22 are counted as drive included. The NAC-1 title names PUMP-1. The NAC-2 and NAC-3 core packs list the drive as not included. Read the listing for the contents.
What does control built in mean for the tiller pilots?
For the TP10 and TP22, the pool records the control as built into the unit, so there is no separate control head in a separate box. The AP44, A2004 and AP70 packs name a control head in the title. The core packs do not state a control head. Check the listing for what is included.
Why are the tiller pilots ranked first in this guide?
The ordering rule ranks listings whose titles name both the drive and the control head in the box, or a tiller pilot with its built-in control, ahead of those that name one of the two, then ahead of those that name neither. The TP10 and TP22 are the only picks of the first kind, so they lead the list.
Can any Simrad autopilot in this guide be installed by an owner?
This guide makes no claim about installation. Whether a unit can be fitted by an owner depends on the boat, the steering and the listing contents. A person aboard stays responsible for the watch; the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety page gives general boating safety guidance.
Recent updates
- : First published.