Mercury 5HP 5MLHA LPG Propane Sail Power Outboard - Special Stock

The Mercury 5HP 5MLHA Sail Power outboard runs on propane and adds a built-in alternator, a combination built for sailors who want to recharge a battery underway as much as they want propulsion. The L in the model code marks this as the 20-inch shaft version, one of two shaft lengths Mercury offers in this Sail Power line.

Why Sail Power is different

Instead of chasing speed, this model trades some of it for extra low-speed thrust, useful for pushing a heavier sailboat hull at a slow, controllable pace rather than planing. The alternator here is rated 12 volts, 4 amps, 50 watts, wired to its own charge cable for running lights or electronics while the motor idles under sail. A reverse-thrust exhaust design and a high-thrust propeller help keep the boat steady at those low, sail-assist speeds.

Starting and running

Starting is manual, helped along by a manual choke that enrichens the fuel mixture for cold starts, and by auto decompression, which reduces the pull force needed on the starter rope. Because it runs on propane rather than gasoline, there is no carburetor to maintain, which Mercury markets as a maintenance advantage over a comparable gasoline outboard. Confirm your boat's shaft-length needs before ordering, since the 25-inch version of this Sail Power model is sold under its own listing.

Does the alternator work while the motor idles? Yes, the 12-volt charging system is designed to keep charging a battery at low, sail-assist speeds. Mercury outboards