Octopus Autopilot Drives

Octopus Autopilot Drives are industry-leading marine steering solutions known for their reliability, efficiency, and innovative engineering. A division of Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd., Octopus has been designing, manufacturing and marketing autopilot drives for over 20 years. The company holds patents on several unique devices that enhance drive performance, and supplies drives to most of the marine industry's leading autopilot manufacturers for resale within their autopilot packages.

Universal Compatibility and Engineering Excellence

Designed to interface seamlessly with major autopilot electronics (like Garmin, Raymarine, and Simrad), Octopus offers a drive for nearly every type of steering system, from small sailboats to heavy-duty commercial vessels. The company categorizes its drives based on the boat's existing steering hardware to ensure maximum performance and minimal power consumption. This thoughtful approach to product development means boaters don't need to overhaul their entire steering system to gain autopilot functionality.

Hydraulic and Mechanical Drive Systems

Hydraulic Linear Drives serve as the preferred choice for larger sailing vessels with mechanical steering, with the Octopus Hydraulic Linear Drive being a self-contained unit that combines a cylinder, pump, and reservoir, providing high thrust with low power draw. An independent comparison by the University of British Columbia showed that Octopus piston pumps are three times more efficient than a gear pump and can be expected to halve the battery consumption when compared to a competitor's unit.

Mechanical Linear Drives work best for smaller to mid-sized sailboats, connecting directly to the quadrant or tiller arm. For powerboats with cable steering, the Octopus Type R Remote Drive allows you to add autopilot capabilities to a cable-steered boat without having to replace the entire steering system with hydraulics. The Type-S Straight Shaft Drive Unit is a rotary mechanical autopilot drive system that makes it simple and economical to fit an autopilot on smaller powerboats with mechanical push-pull cable steering.

Advanced Features and Flexibility

Many Octopus pumps feature adjustable flow, allowing you to fine-tune the rudder speed for precise tracking in various sea conditions. The drives are designed so that they can be easily bypassed if you need to take manual control of the helm instantly. This emergency manual override capability provides peace of mind during critical navigation situations. The Sterndrive Autopilot System is suitable for most Mercruiser and Volvo Penta Systems, and is an autopilot drive for cable steered powerboats that clamps to the steering cylinder with no drilling or cutting required.

Whether you're installing an autopilot on a compact day sailor or a large cruising yacht, Octopus Autopilot Drives offers precision-engineered solutions that balance performance, power efficiency, and installation flexibility for mariners who demand reliable automated steering in all sea conditions.