This decision is driven by the architecture of your boat, how you sail... and your
budget.
In my case which is probably somewhat unique.... I only use the helm and manually steer to actually make a final approach to a
dock or a
mooring. I use the AP now for all other
steering....except in a crowded situation where I have to dodge boats and dinks. I need a faster helm response.
My AP controls which is an Alpha 300 is a rotary dial... and I simply turn it like a helm... clockwise to turn to stbd and counter clockwise to turn to port. Tiny turns... a few degrees only makes a slight course change. I don't LOOK at the AP... I look at the
environment.. just as I don't look at the helm when I manually steer.
My
cockpit plotter went from a small
phone sized one to a
B&G Z7 which I mount in a
winch on the the coach roof under the dodger. I can swing it around to view from stbd or poet or when I sit in the companionway on the bridge
deck. I remove it when not sailing. It's powered via a cig
plug and has a built in
antenna and no interface to
radar or
AIS or transducers... just a plotter for positional information... depths, buoys and so forth.
A helm location would be a waste of
money. When I steer I want to look around and not at a
screen below me. If I do steer and want to view a chart... I can use my smart
phone running
navionics.
As someone who has cruised thousands of miles... standing at the helm is just not done very much. I don't
race either and short hand sail.... so I rely on the AP so I can trim and so forth. I have no
bimini (yet) and don't want to roast in the sun.... get sprayed or rained on... so sitting forward under the protection of the dodger is my place. I can look forward thrugh the dodger or pop my
head up to see over it in all forward directions... AND still steer with the AP.