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On 15 Jul 2005, (Mic) wrote:

On a sailing craft which purchase would be a priority
an AutoPilot or a furling (head sail)? * * * If
economically I had a choice between a furling or an AP,
I would choose an AP. Considering the useage to be
daysails and 2-3 or 4 day excursions. Its alot more
energy and time to steer than to change sails. BTW I
dont consider a tiller tamer an AP.

Isn't this basically a "chacun a son gôut" kind of Thing depending (as
the OP notes) on the particular use and preferences of the sailor in
question?

Last week-end on the L.I. Sound after a sudden brief but very
strong/gusty thunderstorm, I saw one boat being towed after having
been dismasted and two others towed with their sails blown out. I
concededly am not sure that they didn't have furlers, but, judging by
their apparent age and configurations, etc., I speculate that they did
not and, anyway, saw that they did not get their sails down (or even
reefed) in time and so wonder what their owners would now think about
the value to them of the sort of comparative "more energy" and "more .
.. . time" estimation stated above.

Since the OP appears to be referring mostly to day sailing and, hence,
by implication, to a comparatively smaller boat than a large racer or
cruiser (re. which an autopilot is arguably close to a necessity),
even if one also were to hypothestize a comparatively very limited
budget, one also might wonder whether the "either/or" choice as
posited is realistic in terms of what may be alternatives - e.g.,
diligent shopping for used equipment in the secondary market[s] (re.
which eBay is only one potential source that might come to mind).