I have always had two completely separate auto pilot systems on my long distance boats. I have had failures--resorted to hand steering until the system was fixed. I have also made passages (Transpac: L A to Honolulu) hand steering for 11 to 16 days. The hand steering gets old very fast. One of the first things I do on a passagemaking boat is to work out the auto pilot systems. I have known Steve and Linda Dashew for over 40 years and they have extensive offshore experience and some extremely inovative ideas. http://www.setsail.com/dashew/do_paradigm.html covers the latest motor yacht design. Steve has utalized Willie Hamm Autopilots for many years. They have an excellent reputation and I would not hesitate to use two on a passagemaker. Bob Austin