Control Heads: Knob vs Touchscreen

What a control head does

A control head is the interface you use to steer the autopilot: it lets you arm the system, set a heading, adjust the rudder command, and change modes or settings. The Raymarine autopilot page describes a control head as the way to gain "confident and intuitive access" to the autopilot's feature set. It is the part of the system you touch, read, and watch most often.

Control heads vary in their input method, display size, and mounting style. Some use a dedicated rotary knob, some rely on pushbuttons, and others are full touchscreens. Some combine more than one input. Many autopilot packs come with a specific control head, while other packs leave the head out so you can choose your own. To see which heads are bundled with which packs, review our autopilot control head options or browse the best autopilots with control head.

Rotary knob controls: the classic

A rotary knob is a physical dial you turn to change the desired heading or to scroll through menus. Pressing the knob engages the autopilot, and turning it adjusts the course. Its biggest advantage is tactile feedback: you can feel the detents and the resistance without taking your eyes off the horizon. That counts when you are wearing gloves, when spray hits the windshield, or when the boat is pitching and rolling.

Rotary knobs also work with wet or cold hands because they do not require a precise finger press on a glass surface. The control head still has a small display, but the knob does the fine adjustment. A knob is often easier to operate in bright sunlight because you do not need to read a screen to know how many times you have turned it; the position and feel tell you.

Many control heads on the market use this style, including several in Raymarine's Evolution range. The physical dial is a familiar interface for boaters who grew up with mechanical controls and it is a common choice for exposed helm positions. If you sail in an open cockpit, a knob head is often the practical pick; see the best sailboat autopilots for examples.

Touchscreen controls: more screen, more features

A touchscreen control head puts a large display at your fingertips. Instead of dialing through menus, you tap and swipe to set a heading, switch modes, or access a data page. The screen can show more information at once: course, waypoint, wind angle, rudder position, and system status. The interface can be made more flexible with software updates, and it often integrates with chartplotter style interactions.

The trade-off is that a touchscreen requires visual attention and a deliberate finger press. If you are steering into a short sea, if your hands are wet, or if you are wearing bulky gloves, tapping the right soft key can be tricky. Glare on a bright day can also make the screen hard to read unless you turn the backlight up, which brings its own distraction.

Some touchscreen control heads are marketed for powerboats where the helm is protected and the crew can spend more time looking at a screen. For example, the Furuno NavPilot 300 uses a 4.1 inch color LCD and a separate gesture controller, which is a remote that lets you push a button to point and shoot a heading from anywhere within 10 meters. That remote is not a touchscreen, but it shows how a manufacturer can add a different control layer on top of a display. For powerboats with an enclosed helm, a touchscreen head may be the best fit; see the best powerboat autopilots.

Gesture and remote alternatives

Beyond the control head itself, many autopilot systems include or offer a remote control. The Furuno NavPilot 300's gesture controller is a Bluetooth remote that lets you press and hold a button, point the remote at a heading, and release to set the course. A remote is useful when you spend time away from the helm, such as when trimming sails, fishing off the stern, or docking with a side mount. You can read more about autopilot remote control in our detailed guide.

Some chartplotters and multifunction displays can also function as a control head for an autopilot if they are connected over a NMEA 2000 network. The NMEA 2000 standard describes a network for marine electronics to share commands and status. If your boat already has a chartplotter that is part of the network, you may be able to steer the autopilot from that screen, which can reduce the need for a dedicated control head at every station. For a full list of systems that support this kind of integration, see the best marine autopilot guide.

The choice between a knob and a touchscreen is not only about the control head itself; it also involves how often you will use an alternative like a remote or a chartplotter interface. A boat with a dedicated helmsman may be fine with a knob, while a skipper who single-hands a sailboat may prefer a remote and a simpler head.

Matching the interface to your boat

The right control head depends on where the helm is, how exposed it is, and what your hands are doing while the autopilot works.

On a sailboat with a cockpit wheel, the control head is often mounted in the cockpit, exposed to spray, rain, and sun. A rotary knob stands up well to wet hands and you can operate it without lifting your eyes from the sails or the water. On a sailboat with a tiller, you may even skip a traditional head entirely and use a tiller pilot, which has its own built-in keypad. The best tiller pilots guide explains those options.

On a powerboat with an enclosed helm, a touchscreen can be a natural fit because you are usually sitting at the helm, looking at a multifunction display, and the screen is protected from the elements. A center console or an open fishing boat, however, spends more time in wet conditions, so a knob or a remote may be more practical.

Think about your gloves. If you sail in cold weather, you will be wearing gloves most of the season. Try to imagine how easy a touchscreen is with those gloves versus a knob. Also consider how often you rely on the autopilot's display for information. A touchscreen gives you a lot of data, but if you rarely look at it, the extra screen real estate may not be worth the finger precision it demands.

Features to check before you buy

When you compare control heads, look at the physical size and the mounting. Does the head fit in the space you have at the helm? Is it surface mounted or flush? Does it need to be integrated with a particular network, such as NMEA 2000, or does it connect with a proprietary cable? These details are part of what you should compare across complete autopilot packs.

Check whether the head has a backlight that you can adjust, and if it has a stand-by mode or an audible alarm for off-course alerts. The Raymarine autopilot page mentions that a control head completes your Evolution system and gives you intuitive access to the feature set, which implies that your head must be compatible with the rest of the system. Ask the seller or the maker which control heads work with the autopilot pack you are considering.

Also decide if you need more than one station. Some control heads support multiple stations on a network, so you can have one at the helm, one at a secondary position, or use a remote instead. A knob at one station and a touchscreen at another is possible, but you want to make sure the network allows it.

How to decide

To choose between a knob and a touchscreen, first answer where the helm is, how often you wear gloves, and how much you expect to use the autopilot's display. If you are installing an autopilot on a powerboat with an enclosed helm and you like looking at a screen, a touchscreen will serve you well. If your cockpit is open or you sail in rough water, a knob with a small display is often the safer, simpler choice.

Remember that you are not limited to one input. Many autopilot packs include a control head, but you can also add a remote. A knob head combined with a handheld remote gives you both a tactile primary control and the ability to steer from elsewhere. The same is true for a touchscreen head when you add a remote that has physical buttons. For more on the options, see autopilot control head features.

Before you buy, gather the stated details of the control heads you are comparing: the display size, the input method, whether it comes in the pack or is sold separately, and what the maker's page says about compatibility. This site compares those stated details only, so you can see which packs bundle a knob head and which bundle a touchscreen. Our autopilot buying guide is a good starting point.

What to pick for your situation

Questions

Can I use a touchscreen control head with gloves?

Most touchscreens are not designed for thick gloves, and wet fingers can reduce responsiveness. A rotary knob can be operated with gloves and does not rely on finger contact on a glass surface.

Which is easier to use in rough seas?

A rotary knob is generally easier because you can feel its position and do not need to look at the screen while the boat is moving. A touchscreen requires a steady finger and a view of the target area.

Do autopilot packs always include a control head?

No. Some packs include a specific control head, while core packs leave the head out so you can pick your own. The listing will state which parts are in the box.

Can I have both a knob and a touchscreen on the same boat?

Yes, if the system supports multiple stations on a network. You can put a knob at the main helm and a touchscreen or a remote at a second station, as long as the network and the manufacturer's specifications allow it.

Do I need a control head at all if I have a chartplotter?

Some chartplotters can control an autopilot over a NMEA 2000 network, but not every system integrates that way. The maker's page will tell you if a specific chartplotter can be used as an autopilot control interface. If it can, a dedicated control head may be optional.

Are touchscreens harder to read in sunlight?

They can be, depending on the display quality and backlight. Sun glare affects all screens, but a knob head with a small display can still be operated without reading the screen, which is an advantage in bright conditions.

What should I check before buying a control head?

Check the mounting size, the input method, whether it is included in the autopilot pack, and what network it connects to. Also see if the manufacturer states that the head works with the autopilot model you have in mind.