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Marine Autopilot

Below-deck system · B&G

B&G NAC-2 Autopilot

The sailing-focused course computer for yachts with low-current drives.

Indicative price
$3,400–$4,200 unit
Fitted
$7,000–$10,500
Rated for
Sized by drive or pump
Editor score
70 / 100
Mechanical wheel (cable, chain or rod)TillerHydraulicShorthanded racingCoastal cruisingOffshore / bluewater

B&G is the only mainstream brand that builds its autopilot around sailing first. The NAC-2 is its course computer for yachts with low-current drives, roughly the 30–40 foot cruiser-racer range, and it is sold as a core pack with a Precision-9 nine-axis compass, a Triton2 pilot controller and an RF25N rudder feedback. The drive is bought separately to suit the boat: a Jefa or B&G direct-drive linear ram, a , or a hydraulic pump.

What you get for sailing is real. Wind steering uses true or with , so the pilot bears away in a puff rather than rounding up. Tack and gybe are one-button with a configurable rate. Combined with a B&G wind sensor and a Zeus or Vulcan plotter, the pilot understands the boat's polars through Sailing features such as laylines and start-line tools. A recovery mode returns the pilot to its pre-gust course. None of this matters on a motor cruiser; all of it matters on a two-handed passage race.

The NAC-2's limit is drive current. Heavier boats or big rams need the NAC-3. Australian dealers that focus on racing yachts will usually spec the NAC-3 with a Jefa drive even on lighter boats for headroom.

Verdict

Choose the NAC-2 for a 30–38 foot yacht that races shorthanded or cruises with wind steering as a priority, and only if a low-current drive suits the boat. When in doubt, buy the NAC-3.

B&G NAC-2 Autopilot (Triton2 Pilot Controller) drive sizing

Sized by drive current: the NAC-2 supplies drives up to roughly 8 A continuous, which in practice means yachts of about 8–12 m depending on the drive. Above that, use the NAC-3.

Specifications

Autopilot components, voltage and steering modes

Sensor
Precision-9 nine-axis solid-state compass
Course computer
NAC-2, low-current drive output
Control
Triton2 Pilot Controller; also Zeus and Vulcan MFDs; optional wireless remote
Feedback
RF25N rudder feedback
Drive
Sold separately: B&G/Jefa linear, rotary or hydraulic
Voltage
12 V DC
Network
NMEA 2000, SimNet-compatible
Power draw
1.5 A typical, 8 A peak. Depends on the drive; a small Jefa linear drive on a 10 m yacht averages 1–2 A under way.
Steering systems
Mechanical wheel (cable, chain or rod); Tiller; Hydraulic

Modes

  • Auto (heading)
  • Wind (true or apparent) with gust response
  • Nav (route following)
  • No Drift (course over ground)
  • Tack and gybe assist
  • Recovery mode
  • Turn patterns

Features

  • Purpose-built sailing steering modes and gust response
  • Configurable tack and gybe rates
  • Polar-aware Sailing features with Zeus or Vulcan and a B&G wind sensor
  • Rudder feedback standard in the pack
  • NMEA 2000 native

For and against

Autopilot strengths and limitations

Strengths
  • Best sailing behaviour in its price bracket
  • Rudder feedback and nine-axis compass in the box
  • Drives from Jefa are excellent and widely used in Australia
  • Familiar to any dealer who services race boats
Limitations
  • Drive bought separately makes the headline price misleading
  • Low-current limit means many 38-footers end up on the NAC-3
  • Menus on the Triton2 head are deep for casual users

Who fits it

Boats and places where this system is recommended

Boat types

Australian waters

  • Sydney and Pittwater → Worth it on a 30 to 38 foot club racer already running B&G instruments. True wind steering and a clean recovery from a lull are what twilight racing and short-handed work out of Pittwater ask for.
  • Whitsundays and Mackay → For a sailing boat under about 38 feet that wants proper wind steering through the passage. Holding a constant apparent angle downwind in the trades is exactly what this core pack does well.

Questions

B&G NAC-2 Autopilot (Triton2 Pilot Controller): frequently asked

NAC-2 or NAC-3 for a 36-foot cruiser-racer?

Usually the NAC-3. The price gap is modest and the NAC-3 handles a larger drive with headroom, which matters when the boat is pressed downwind in a seaway. The NAC-2 suits lighter boats with small drives.

Does the B&G pilot need a B&G wind sensor?

Any NMEA 2000 wind sensor provides apparent wind for wind steering. The polar-based Sailing features and the best gust response assume a B&G wind sensor and a Zeus or Vulcan display.

Alternatives to consider

The systems most often weighed against this one.

Other below-deck system systems

Head to head

Comparisons featuring this system

ProductsB&G vs Simrad vs Raymarine →Racers and wind-steering cruisers: B&G. Power boats: Simrad. Everyone else with a cruising yacht: Raymarine's EV-200 pack is complete, well…ProductsB&G NAC-2 vs B&G NAC-3 →NAC-2 belongs on the shortlist when the selected drive is within its supported limits. NAC-3 is the appropriate comparison when the…ProductsB&G NAC-2 system vs Raymarine EV-200 Sail →Consider NAC-2 when a supported drive and B&G instrument arrangement match the yacht. Consider EV-200 Sail when its drive configuration and…
Check the finder’s viewLearn to use itManufacturer site ↗

Autopilot commissioning and operator training

A $10,500 installation with no handover is a gamble. Half a day on the water with the installer or an instructor covers the modes, the override, the alarms and a failure drill. It is the cheapest safety equipment aboard.

Find an instructorOpen the competency checklist