Windvane vs. Autopilot
Comparison Chart
| This comparison shows general differences between under deck pilots* and windvanes for boats 30-50 feet. | |||
| AUTOPILOT | WINDVANE | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost/Economy | Under deck models... Expect $8000 with professional installation. Additional cost for equipment needed to handle electrical demand. | Expect $3500
- $4000. Custom made mounting system included. Owner installed. |
|
| Power | High electrical consumption requires some or all of the following; extra batteries, special alternator, generators, (wind, water, auxiliary) solar panels, extra fuel and spares. | Totally mechanical, needs no electricity. Works even if entire electrical system is disabled. | |
| Reliability | Recent survey of over 300 boats showed that the best selling under deck autopilot had 800+ hours of use between breakdowns. This translates to a breakdown once every 34 days or approximately 8 times in an average circumnavigation. | Extremely reliable. Two circumnavigations with only routine maintenance not unusual | |
| Performance | Performance drops as the weather deteriorates. Correction likely to be too slow and too late, high energy consumption. Radio transmissions and magnetic interference sometimes confuse the pilot | The more it blows, the better it works. Has more power with higher boat speed. Many examples of the windvanes steering for days in 60 mph under bare poles. | |
| Noise | Annoying noise for sailors. | Quiet and peaceful. | |
| Repair | Impossible to repair at sea unless electronic wizard on board. Service centers often far away. Expect expensive air freight, customs hassle and often 3-6 weeks turnaround. Sailors with large wallets have spare pilots. No help if electrical system is down. | Can be repaired and serviced on board with regular hand tools and spare parts kit. Built in overload protection. | |
| Autopilots are divided into A. Under deck and B. Cockpit mounted models: Cockpit pilots are not recommended for heavy work. The West Advisor in West Marine's catalog recommends them only if you have back up models, a windvane or a strong preference for hand-steering. | |||