Navico NAC-1 Outboard Hydraulic Autopilot Pack

The Navico NAC-1 Outboard Hydraulic Autopilot Pack is the complete autopilot system bundle that drops a full MFD-driven autopilot onto an outboard-powered boat in a single purchase. Outboard boats up to about 30 feet running a single hydraulic-steered or cable-steered outboard are the target application - center consoles, sportfish bay boats, dual console fishing boats, walkaround cabin boats, and similar single-outboard hulls where the owner wants the hands-free navigation, fatigue reduction, and trolling track-keeping that autopilot delivers.

What "MFD-driven autopilot" means and why it matters. Traditional autopilot systems require a dedicated autopilot head unit installed at the helm - a separate display with its own buttons that you use to engage, disengage, and adjust the autopilot. The NAC-1 architecture instead drives the autopilot directly from your existing chartplotter (multi-function display) - the touchscreen you already use for navigation also drives the autopilot. Two benefits: (1) less helm clutter - no extra display to mount or wire up. (2) Lower system cost - you're not paying for a redundant display since your chartplotter already has one. The optional metal Standby/Auto button included in the pack mounts at the helm for one-touch autopilot engagement without needing to touch the chartplotter.

Hydraulic and cable steer compatibility. The Pump-1 MKII reversible hydraulic gear pump included in the pack works directly with hydraulic-steered outboards by tying into the existing hydraulic steering lines through the included fitting kit. For cable-steered outboards (older or smaller boats), the same NAC-1 computer also drives compatible cable-actuator units (sold separately) - so the autopilot architecture is flexible across both common outboard steering types. The specific pack you're buying includes the hydraulic Pump-1 MKII for hydraulic-steer installation.

The Pump-1 MKII pump details. 0.8-liter displacement per cycle, reversible (drives steering port or starboard depending on autopilot command), high-efficiency design that uses less battery current than older pump generations, and super-quiet operation that doesn't interfere with fishing or quiet cruising. The pump bolts to a flat mounting surface inside the engine compartment or bilge, ties into the existing hydraulic steering lines at the helm or at the engine, and connects to the NAC-1 computer with the included cable. Pump-1 MKII is the current-generation pump in the Navico autopilot lineup - field-proven over years of recreational and small commercial service.

Point-1 AP heading and GPS sensor. The included Point-1 AP is the sensor that gives the autopilot its situational awareness: 9-axis solid-state heading sensor (uses three accelerometers, three gyros, and three magnetometers fused together for high-precision heading regardless of boat motion) plus an internal GPS receiver for course-over-ground and position fixing. The Point-1 AP plugs into the NMEA 2000 network, communicates with the NAC-1 computer over the same backbone, and provides the data that lets the autopilot maintain accurate heading hold even in choppy water where simpler magnetic compasses would wander.

Steer to Heading, Course, or Route. Three operating modes cover essentially every navigation scenario: (1) Steer to Heading - hold a fixed compass heading. The simplest mode. Useful when you're traveling between two points where you've manually computed the right compass bearing or when you just want the autopilot to keep the boat pointed the same direction. (2) Steer to Course - hold a course-over-ground line, which is different from heading because GPS course accounts for current and wind set-and-drift. The autopilot adjusts heading as needed to keep the actual GPS track straight - so you don't get pushed sideways by current. (3) Steer to Route - navigate a multi-waypoint route from your chartplotter automatically. The autopilot turns at each waypoint to head toward the next one, completing a planned passage without manual intervention.

Automatic turn patterns. Beyond the basic steering modes, the NAC-1 supports automated turn patterns: U-turn (reverse course 180 degrees), Circle (steer a continuous circle for jigging or for marking a structure), S-turn (zig-zag for trolling presentations), and other configurable patterns. Useful for fishermen running trolling presentations (zig-zag covers more water than straight trolling) and for cruisers who want to hold a search pattern over a productive fishing area.

NAC-1 plug-and-socket connectors. The NAC-1 computer uses Navico's proprietary plug-and-socket connectors instead of traditional screw terminals - so install is plug-the-connector-in rather than strip-wire-and-screw-down. Faster install, less risk of bad connections, no future corrosion at exposed screw terminals. The connectors are sealed and locked so they won't vibrate loose at sea.

NMEA 2000 network components included. The pack ships with everything you need to extend or create your NMEA 2000 backbone: 2-foot, 6-foot, and 15-foot NMEA 2000 cables (so you can place the components anywhere on the boat without buying additional cables), TR-120-KIT terminators (one male, one female - required for proper NMEA 2000 backbone termination), Micro-C power cable for the network, and a 4-way joiner block. If your boat doesn't already have a NMEA 2000 backbone, the included components form a complete starter network. If you already have a backbone, the cables and joiner extend the existing network to the autopilot components.

Add a second helm station. One of the meaningful features of MFD-driven autopilot: you can effectively add a second helm station to a boat by mounting a second chartplotter and using the MFD's power-steer commands to control the boat from that station. No additional steering wheel, no hydraulic ram at the second station, no second helm pump - just a second chartplotter screen and the boat steers from wherever that screen is mounted. Useful for boats with bow casting platforms, flybridge stations, or aft helm positions where running a second mechanical steering system would be impractical.

12V DC operation, 8-amp continuous output. The NAC-1 computer runs on standard 12-volt marine DC and delivers up to 8 amps continuous (16 amps peak) to the pump or steering actuator. The current draw is appropriate for any boat with a healthy 12V house bank - you don't need a special heavy-duty electrical system to power the autopilot. The autopilot draws minimal standby current when in standby mode (under an amp), so leaving it powered on at the dock doesn't drain the batteries.

Variable voltage feedback from the helm-1 drive unit. The autopilot uses the helm-1's variable voltage feedback signal to know exact rudder position - critical for precise steering control. The result is an autopilot that doesn't oscillate or overshoot when correcting course, even in cross-chop or wind that's trying to push the boat off heading.

What's in the box. NAC-1 Autopilot Computer. Pump-1 MKII 12V 0.8L reversible hydraulic pump (for outboard hydraulic steering). Hydraulic fitting kit for ORB steering systems (the standard outboard hydraulic steering connection). Metal Auto-Standby button (one-touch engagement at the helm). Point-1 AP Heading and GPS Sensor. 2-foot, 6-foot, and 15-foot NMEA 2000 cables. Micro-C power cable. NMEA 2000 4-way joiner. TR-120-KIT terminator set. Complete install hardware. The only thing you need to source separately is your existing compatible chartplotter and any mounting hardware specific to your boat's install location.

Designed and built by Navico - the parent company behind several flagship marine electronics brands - the NAC-1 autopilot system carries decades of professional autopilot engineering experience. The autopilot is well-regarded in the fishing and cruising community for reliable hold, accurate course tracking, and resistance to wind/current set-and-drift. The Pump-1 MKII has a strong field reliability record across years of saltwater service.