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Marine Autopilot

Below-deck system · B&G

B&G NAC-3 Autopilot

The shorthanded racer's autopilot, and a very good cruising one.

Indicative price
$4,300–$5,300 unit
Fitted
$9,500–$16,000
Rated for
Sized by drive or pump
Editor score
77 / 100
Mechanical wheel (cable, chain or rod)TillerHydraulicShorthanded racingOffshore / bluewaterCoastal cruising

The NAC-3 is the NAC-2 with a high-current drive output, which makes it the course computer for almost any yacht over about 11 metres and the default on Australian two-handed and shorthanded race boats. It drives large Jefa linear and direct drives, rotary drives and hydraulic pumps, on 12 or 24 V, and it shares the same Precision-9 compass, Triton2 pilot controller and RF25N rudder feedback.

The sailing behaviour is the point. In Wind mode with the pilot bears away in a puff and comes back up as it eases, which keeps a boat on its feet at 2 am without waking the off-watch. Tack and gybe are one-button. With an H5000 processor it becomes a full performance system with heel-compensated wind and polar targets, which is why you see it on Sydney Hobart two-handed entries and the offshore fleets out of Melbourne and Brisbane.

Cruisers benefit from the same behaviour dialled down: it is quiet, precise and easy to override, and the mode holds a track over the ground across a tidal set on the way into Moreton Bay or across the Rip.

Verdict

The best sailing autopilot you can buy from a mainstream brand in Australia. Cruisers who value wind steering, and any shorthanded racer, should start here. Power boat owners will pay for features they never use.

B&G NAC-3 Autopilot (Triton2 Pilot Controller) drive sizing

Sized by drive: the NAC-3 supplies up to roughly 30 A continuous, which covers linear and hydraulic drives for yachts from about 10 m to well over 18 m depending on the drive chosen.

Specifications

Autopilot components, voltage and steering modes

Sensor
Precision-9 nine-axis compass; H5000 3D motion sensor optional
Course computer
NAC-3, high-current drive output, 12/24 V
Control
Triton2 Pilot Controller, Zeus or Vulcan MFD, H5000 Pilot Controller, wireless remote
Feedback
RF25N rudder feedback
Drive
Sold separately: Jefa linear, direct or rotary drives; hydraulic pumps
Voltage
12 V or 24 V DC
Network
NMEA 2000, SimNet-compatible, H5000 (Ethernet) integration
Power draw
2.5 A typical, 25 A peak. Depends entirely on the drive and how hard the boat is being sailed. A Jefa direct drive on a 40-footer downwind at night can average 3–5 A.
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
  • Tack and gybe assist
  • Recovery mode
  • Performance modes with H5000

Features

  • High-current output for large drives on 12 or 24 V
  • Full B&G sailing steering behaviour
  • Upgrade path to H5000 for racing
  • Rudder feedback and nine-axis compass in the pack
  • Works with Zeus and Vulcan plotters for route and layline steering

For and against

Autopilot strengths and limitations

Strengths
  • The standard on Australian shorthanded race boats for a reason
  • Excellent downwind behaviour with gust response
  • Jefa drives are robust and locally supported
  • Scales from cruising to full racing electronics
Limitations
  • Full system with drive is not cheap
  • Sailing depth is wasted on a motor cruiser
  • Triton2 menus take learning; a handover session is worth paying for

Who fits it

Boats and places where this system is recommended

Boat types

Australian waters

  • New South Wales → The two-handed offshore fleet's standard, with true-wind steering for the run home.
  • Victoria → The Bass Strait racing fleet's pilot, with gust response for the westerlies.
  • Queensland → For performance cats and the Hamilton Island and Airlie Beach race weeks.
  • Tasmania → For the race fleet and performance cruisers.
  • Melbourne and Port Phillip → The choice for a 36 foot and up racing yacht doing bay series and the run to Hobart. High-current drive support and quick response suit both the steep bay chop and a loaded up reach in Bass Strait.
  • Perth, Fremantle and Rottnest → Suits the Perth racing fleet, where boats are regularly loaded up in 25 knots of Doctor. A high-current drive and quick response keep a 40 footer tracking on a reach where a lighter system would be behind the boat.
  • Hobart and the D’Entrecasteaux Channel → The pick for offshore racing boats based on the Derwent. High-current drive support and quick response are what a loaded-up boat needs in the sort of weather this coast produces regularly.

Questions

B&G NAC-3 Autopilot (Triton2 Pilot Controller): frequently asked

Is the NAC-3 overkill for a cruising yacht?

Not if the yacht is over about 11 metres or heads offshore regularly. The high-current output is headroom, and headroom is what keeps a pilot steering at 2 am in a following sea. Most 40-foot cruisers in Australia running B&G use the NAC-3.

Which drive should I pair with the NAC-3?

A Jefa linear drive sized to the boat's displacement and rudder torque is the usual answer for yachts with a tiller arm on the rudder stock. Boats with chain-and-cable steering can use a rotary drive; hydraulic boats use a pump. Your dealer will size it from Jefa's tables.

Do I need an H5000 to get the sailing features?

No. Wind steering with gust response, tack and gybe assist and No Drift all work with a Triton2 controller and a wind sensor. The H5000 adds heel-compensated wind, polar targets and race-specific pilot modes.

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 H5000 Pilot vs NAC-3 →Consider H5000 when its sailing functions and complete instrument architecture address a defined requirement. Compare NAC-3 when the…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-3 system vs Raymarine EV-400 Sail →Shortlist the system whose drive, structure and control integration can be documented for the yacht. NAC-3 and EV-400 labels do not…
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Autopilot commissioning and operator training

A $16,000 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