I inherited a Navico Wheelpilot when I bought the boat. It served me very well, but I was always concerned about the belt, wiring harness, control module, mainsheet, traveler control line, and genoa sheets all coming together in one spot. I knew it was just a matter of time before it all got jammed up, possibly damaging the unit and causing loss of control. Naturally, all of these lines are most likely to get snarled up in rough weather, and when single-handing, the time when I need a functional auto-pilot the most. I did managed to damage the original belt drive unit by forcing a lazarette lid past the wheel just as the autopilot jogged in the other direction. A 1" spacer under the pedestal eliminated any possibility of making that mistake again, and Navico made a friend forever by upgrading the unit and rushing it back to me. I promised myself I would buy another Navico product without hesitation. My Simrad "Navico" autopilot was a snap to install, is powerful, quiet and accurate, and I can unplug it and take it off in five minutes--a plus for me, as it is in the way when racing with a full crew. I am very happy with it. Go Back To Top