2019 Mercury 5 HP 5MH Outboard Motor

Built in Japan and rated for saltwater use, the 2019 Mercury 5 HP 5MH Outboard Motor runs a carburetor and a pull-start rope rather than EFI or a key, on a 15-inch short shaft suited to skiffs, jon boats, and inflatables.

Specifications that matter when choosing this motor

Mercury rates this single-cylinder engine's displacement at 7.5/123 on its cubic-inch-to-cc scale, running a bore of 2.32 inches and a stroke of 1.77 inches, and tops out between 4500 and 5500 rpm. Fuel comes from a carburetor rather than injection, CDI ignition with electric spark advance supplies the spark, and a pressurized wet-sump system handles lubrication with SAE 10W-30 oil. The 2.15 gear ratio drives a forward-neutral-reverse shift through a 7.7-inch-diameter, 8.0-inch-pitch three-blade aluminum propeller. An optional 12-volt, 50-watt, 4-amp alternator can be installed if charging capability is wanted, since it is not wired in by default on this base model.

What ships with it

Mercury includes the internal fuel tank, owner's manual, aluminum propeller, a bottle of four-stroke oil, and a tool kit. Saltwater-rated construction and sacrificial zinc anodes are built in for corrosion protection, which matters even on a motor bound mostly for fresh water, since salvage and brackish conditions still turn up along many inland waterways. At 55 pounds, it is light enough to lift onto a bracket without a hoist, and this motor is backed by Mercury Marine's three-year warranty from the date of purchase.

Specifications