Simrad Type S Straight Shaft Rotary Autopilot Drive

The Simrad Type S is a rotary mechanical autopilot drive unit built for boats that use push-pull cable steering. It's the muscle that lets a Simrad autopilot actually turn the wheel for you, replacing the manual helm behind the dash so your pilot can hold a heading, follow a route, and keep you on track while you tend lines, watch the sounder, or just give your arms a rest on a long run. If you've wanted autopilot on a cable-steered boat but weren't sure how the pilot would move the rudder, this is the piece that makes it work.

This is the straight shaft version, designed to drop in where your existing rotary helm lives. It mounts directly behind the dash, so the installation stays concealed and your console keeps its clean look. The Type S ships with a bezel kit that makes it a practical retrofit on most cable-steered helms, and you keep your existing steering wheel and cable rather than tearing out the whole system. That's a big deal for owners who like their current helm and just want to add hands-free steering without a ground-up rebuild.

Because it's a mechanical drive, the Type S turns the same steering cable your hands already do. When the autopilot is off, you steer normally through the wheel. When you engage the pilot, the drive's motor and clutch take over and move the cable to hold the course the autopilot computer commands. The unit is built with integrated rudder feedback capability, which is what gives a good autopilot its precise, settled feel instead of the constant hunting you get from a poorly matched drive. Rudder feedback tells the pilot exactly where the rudder sits, so corrections are smooth and confident.

The Type S is meant to pair with a Simrad autopilot system. On its own it's a drive, not a complete pilot, so you'll run it alongside a Simrad autopilot computer and control head to make a full self-steering setup. If you're building a system from scratch or upgrading an older pilot, we can help you confirm the drive matches the rest of your components so everything talks together the way it should. Getting the drive matched to the boat and the pilot is the single most important part of a happy autopilot install, and we don't want you guessing.

Who's this drive for? It's aimed at the owner of a smaller powerboat with mechanical cable steering who's ready to add real hands-free capability. Think of a bay boat, a coastal walkaround, or a runabout where the helm is a rotary cable system rather than hydraulics. On those boats a hydraulic pump drive doesn't apply, and a mechanical rotary drive like the Type S is exactly the right tool. It respects the steering you already have and adds the autopilot muscle on top.

Installation is a retrofit-friendly job for a competent rigger. The behind-the-dash mounting, the included bezel kit, and the fact that you reuse your existing wheel and cable all keep the work reasonable. Once it's in, the payoff is real. Anyone who has run offshore for hours knows how much fatigue the wheel builds up, and letting the pilot hold the line while you stay fresh and alert makes for a safer, more enjoyable day on the water.

Every Simrad Type S we sell is the genuine article, and we're here to help before and after the sale. If you're not certain the Type S is the correct drive for your steering system and your Simrad pilot, reach out with your boat and steering details. We'll help you get the right drive the first time so your autopilot performs the way it's supposed to.