Good autopilots that operate for many years without breakdowns are not custom made nor cost an arm and leg. NKE is expensive, but they only sell at the high end. You get functionality that is unbelievable and can steer a boat better in all conditions than anyone reading this forum. They have to - they are relied upon to steer unstable and squirrely boats continuously through the southern ocean sea states and winds for months on end. Their computational power, predictive software, sea state evaluation and wind/speed/nav integration is top notch. B&G also sell systems into this market.

But there are other manufacturers who sell high quality AP gear with less functionality, but imminently suitable for conditions experienced by almost all cruising boats, for the same price or less than windvanes. And these are not toys for coastal cruising. Just how much have you actually used a good below deck autopilot?

Alpha has not significantly changed their product in years. That is exactly the point I was making - these systems have existed for a long time. Yes, they are a small, low volume outfit and are often late in response (they may actually be cruising at times). I know two people who have needed service from them within the past year and they both got great support. They both had worn component problems with over 20yr old systems with control heads installed in the cockpit. WH is also a company who has not needed to change their designs much in the past few decades, with good reason.

Categorizing people who use AP's as cruising with a silver spoon in their mouth is in the same non-logical vein as categorizing them all as hacks, dreamers and incompetents. It is not intelligent, doesn't hold up to basic scrutiny and I expected better from you. And again, it completely ignores the fact that some valid cruising boats cannot mount or utilize a windvane.

Let me try a categorization: people using AP's are less judgmental, more inclusive, more able to evaluate data and facts, more intelligent and logical, and more inclined to see multiple valid ways to address a problem than people with windvanes. I based this categorization on the responses here from the two sides, as well as my personal experience that everyone I know with an AP has never mentioned anything negative about any other self-steering method or tried to twist logic into supporting only their choice.

Now, we both know that categorization is wrong, right? At least I don't really think that way.

Mark