Jesse, I use a Simrad WP32 for just that purpose and its fine. It is like having another crewman when dousing the main as well. I click it on to go forward for a few minutes under sail as well. Its a great asset for my wife and I/short handed sailing.
As Jim correctly suggests they are likely marginal in any kind of a seaway or for sustained use on a M-38. Especially a following sea! But in leiu of $5K below deck autopilot a wheel pilot does the trick for me. If you are going to do serious cruising though, spend the big bucks. If you weekend it like me, you may be able to get away with a wheel version.
Learn to play with the unit's adjustments, you can lessen the strain/work level. Also remember to steer by hand at first, and trim sails to a neutral helm. The engage the pilot. Weather helm is the enemy. If you are "sympathetic" to mechanical devices you can tell when its working too hard.
Raymarine and Simrad used to rate the WP's for 18,500#'s. Then we'd load our boats with another ton or two. The WP's would fail from overwork. Now Ray says 16000# max. Fewer warranty claims! They're the only game in town these days, Simrad stopped making WP's. In fact, I'm pretty sure I bought the last one in North America years ago!
just my opinion, tho'
