Pcnautic Tiller Pilot comparison

Easy: Sailor looking for an easy-to-install, high-quality, and reliable autopilot, with extensive tuning and adjustment options available to suit personal preferences if desired.

Offshore: Sailor looking for a high-quality and reliable autopilot with rudder trim capabilities and extensive tuning and adjustment options to suit personal preferences, if desired.

Pro: Sailor who depends on their autopilot in the most extreme conditions.

Power: Sailor with a heavy-steering tiller-equipped vessel.

Easy – Easy Install: The Easy offers several installation advantages due to the absence of an internal rudder feedback sensor:

1. The drive unit is shorter, allowing a midstroke range from 570 mm up to 900 mm. This makes it possible to use the rudder pin and brass mounting bush of both the Raymarine ST1000 and ST2000 (589 mm) as well as the Simrad TP10, TP22, and TP32 (595 mm) without compromise.

2. The MotorController can be installed anywhere, as installation is not limited by a maximum 2-meter cable length to the drive.

3. The set includes 2-pole screw connectors, allowing you to determine the required cable length between the drive and the MotorController yourself.

Offshore – Rudder Trim Alarm: By using the rudder trim alarm, you can receive a warning when the maximum rudder angle you have set is reached. This allows you to be alerted in time to adjust your sail trim to the prevailing conditions.

Pro – Rudder & Power Trim Alarm: With the max current setting, you can prevent damage to your system. As soon as the value you have set is exceeded, the drive stops moving in that direction, protecting the system if the rudder becomes blocked. By using the current trim alarm, you can receive a warning when your preset value is reached. This allows you to be alerted in time to adjust your sail trim to the prevailing conditions. By using the rudder trim alarm, you can receive a warning when the maximum rudder angle you have set is reached. This allows you to be alerted in time to adjust your sail trim to the prevailing conditions.

Power – Strong and Fast: The Power version distinguishes itself through its combination of strength and speed. With the max current setting, you can prevent damage to your system. As soon as the value you have set is exceeded, the drive stops moving in that direction, protecting the system if the rudder becomes blocked. By using the current trim alarm, you can receive a warning when your preset value is reached. This allows you to be alerted in time to adjust your sail trim to the prevailing conditions.

Easy – No Rudder Trim Alarm: The absence of a rudder feedback sensor has no effect on steering performance or tuning capabilities. Only the rudder trim alarm function is not available.

Offshore / Pro – Install Limits: Due to the rudder feedback sensor, there are some installation limitations:

1. Minimum midstroke of 600 mm.

2. A maximum cable length of 2 meters between the drive and the MotorController.

3. 5-pole solder connectors are used and installed by us. Therefore, when ordering, you must specify the required cable lengths for the drive and the socket.

Power – High Current Use: Due to the more powerful motor with higher torque, the average power consumption is approximately three times higher than with the standard drives.

Price indication in US Dollar without taxes. Check your local prices with shipping costs at checkout in our webshop. Outside the EU the price is without taxes, and taxes and tariffs may apply at UPS.

The midstroke is the distance between the tiller pin and brass bush with the rudder centered.

With the Easy Drive without rudder feedback, the minimum possible midstroke is 570 mm.

With rudder feedback, the minimum is 600 mm and the maximum is 900 mm.

Raymarine and Simrad pushrod extension pieces do not fit the Pcnautic drive.

The Raymarine Q047 drive (ST4000/SPX5/S1/EV-100) has a standard midstroke of 620 mm without extension.

The Simrad TP10, TP22 and TP32 have a standard midstroke of 595 mm without extension.

The Raymarine ST1000 and ST2000 have a standard midstroke of 589 mm without extension.

All Pcnautic drives have a stroke of 300 mm compared to the standard 250 mm commonly found with competitors. The increased stroke provides greater corrective capacity when needed.

The terms “peak thrust” and “thrust” used by Raymarine and Simrad refer to a fictive maximum linear force rather than actual steering force. Our specified force values correspond directly to the figures they publish, ensuring a fair and equivalent comparison.

Easy, Offshore and Pro have a speed of 58 mm/s. Power has a speed of 55 mm/s.

All Pcnautic autopilot models feature our so-called High-Performance Steering. This means the Pcnautic Autopilot delivers fast, precise steering by correcting earlier and using less rudder movement. By steering primarily on rotation and secondarily on course data, it achieves smooth, powerful performance without the need for rudder feedback. The result: lower power consumption and less noise under equal conditions.

With the Endurance MotorController, the system is optimally protected against potential failure caused by unforeseen circumstances. It features additional hardware and software safeguards, including extra fuses and protection against overload, short circuit, and excessive temperature. The goal is to prevent damage in case of incidents and to ensure the system can be returned to operation as quickly as possible.

All Pcnautic tiller drives are equipped with internal limit switches. These interrupt the power supply to the motor as soon as the drive reaches its end position, preventing unnecessary power consumption and wear. The system does not go into error mode and continues to operate normally, even when the end position is reached.

The absence of a rudder feedback sensor has no effect on steering performance or tuning capabilities. Only the rudder trim alarm function is not available.

By using the rudder trim alarm, you can receive a warning when the maximum rudder angle you have set is reached. This allows you to be alerted in time to adjust your sail trim to the prevailing conditions.

With the max current setting, you can prevent damage to your system. As soon as the value you have set is exceeded, the drive stops moving in that direction, protecting the system if the rudder becomes blocked. By using the current trim alarm, you can receive a warning when your preset value is reached. This allows you to be alerted in time to adjust your sail trim to the prevailing conditions.

Easy / Power: With the 2-pin screw connectors, you can adjust the cable length between the Drive and the MotorController yourself. The straight plug and socket are supplied separately.

Offshore / Pro: With the 5-pin solder connectors, the maximum total length between the Drive and the MotorController is 2 meters. When placing your order, you specify the desired cable lengths. You can choose between straight or right-angle connectors, and the connectors will be pre-assembled by us.

Easy / Offshore / Pro: The Pcnautic Autopilot is also distinguished by its fast response, because it starts correcting earlier and requires less rudder movement. This results in better steering behavior that is reflected in more calmness, power and speed compared to competing systems. Additional benefits of the better steering behavior are lower power consumption and less noise under equal conditions.

Power: Due to the more powerful motor with higher torque, the average power consumption is at least two times higher than with the standard drives.

The maximum vessel size for which the system can be used depends entirely on the type of boat, trim, rudder load, sailing conditions, and performance expectations.

On average, the standard version is suitable for boats up to 34 feet, although there are also larger vessels using it with complete satisfaction.

On average, the Power version is suitable for vessels larger than 34 feet.

The maximum displacement for which the system can be used depends entirely on the type of boat, trim, rudder load, sailing conditions, and performance expectations.