Mercury 5HP 5MXLHA LPG Propane Sail Power Outboard

The Mercury 5HP 5MXLHA Sail Power outboard is the 25-inch, x-long shaft version of Mercury's propane-fueled Sail Power line, built for sailboats with a taller transom than the 20-inch 5MLHA version fits. Like its shorter-shaft sibling, it runs on propane and adds a charging alternator rather than chasing extra speed.

Where the extra thrust goes

Sail Power trades some top speed for low-speed pushing power, useful for moving a loaded sailboat hull steadily rather than getting it up on plane. Mercury rates the alternator here at 12 volts, 4 amps, and 50 watts, wired through its own cable so a battery can charge while the motor idles along under sail. A high-thrust propeller paired with reverse-thrust exhaust relief keeps handling steady at those slow speeds.

Starting and running on propane

Starting is manual, with a choke that enriches the fuel mix for easier cold starts and auto decompression that lightens the pull on the starter rope. Running on propane instead of gasoline removes the carburetor from the equation, which Mercury markets as less fuel-system upkeep over time. If your transom calls for the shorter shaft instead, Mercury builds this same Sail Power model in the 20-inch length too.

Does the longer shaft change performance? No, shaft length is about matching the motor to your transom height, not about speed or thrust. Mercury outboards