Dockline Blog

The light-but-mighty new 5hp Propane FourStroke from Mercury Marine delivers a lot of opportunity, convenience and power to a wide variety of vessels, including aluminum boats, inflatables and sailboats.

The new 5hp runs on the same conventional propane you’re probably using in your backyard grill, so there’s no gasoline to haul. It’s also friendly to the environment with 30% fewer exhaust emissions than gasoline.

With a large 7.5-cubic-inch (123-cc) displacement, the new 5hp Propane outboard offers best-in-class power by delivering a true 5hp. A 20-pound (5-gallon) tank of propane will provide 10 hours of running time at 5,000 rpm.

“This is Mercury’s first outboard to run on clean-burning propane fuel,” said Jim Hergert, category manager of Mercury outboards 60hp and lower. “Propane doesn’t degrade or contain ethanol, so you don’t need to worry about what type of fuel to run or how fresh it is. The pressurized fuel system eliminates priming, making the outboard easier to start.

“In short, it’s a very eco-friendly, easy-to-use, reliable and intuitive outboard.”

Also, starting at just 59.5 pounds (27.2 kilograms), the 5hp Propane FourStroke is easy to carry or transport.

With a safety-first approach, the outboard comes standard with a propane auto shut-off valve on the engine and in the fuel hose connector. The standard 6-foot (1.8-meter) fuel hose threads quickly and easily to the outboard and comes with a standard US POL connector on the tank side.

Starting is made easy with the manual choke, which enriches the fuel-to-air ratio for fast and reliable starts, particularly when the engine is cold. Auto decompression reduces the pull force required when using the starter rope.   

The 5hp Propane FourStroke sports an easy-to-reach shift lever on the engine and has six tilt positions with a shallow-water drive to set the outboard where you need it.  

Sail Power

The Sail Power model of the 5hp Propane FourStroke was designed for boaters who use a small outboard to pilot their sailboat. The Sail Power model is offered in 20-inch (508 mm) and 25-inch (635 mm) shaft lengths. Additional features include:

• 12 Volt, 4 Amp / 50-Watt alternator charging system with cable that allows sailors to charge a battery to run electronics or lights
• Reverse-thrust exhaust relief and high-thrust propeller that improves slow-speed handling and control