Mercury 4HP 4MLH Outboard

The new Mercury 4HP 4MLH Outboard is the long-shaft counterpart to the 4MH, built on a 20-inch shaft rather than the shorter option, for boats with a taller transom, but otherwise shares the same single-cylinder engine and tiller handle.

Engine and controls

Displacement here is 85 cc, or 5.2 cubic inches by Mercury's cubic-inch measure, through a pushrod overhead-valve design with two valves per cylinder; full throttle falls somewhere between 5000 and 6000 rpm. You start it by pulling a rope, there is no battery or key involved, and the tiller handle carries the throttle twist-grip right where your hand already rests. Dry weight comes to 55 pounds, light enough to lift onto a bracket solo, and the fuel tank built into the motor holds 0.3 gallons, enough for a grab-and-go outing without hauling a separate tank along.

Fit and included parts

Shaft length matters more on a small motor like this than on a larger engine, since running it too deep or too shallow changes how the propeller bites. Mercury rounds out the package with an integrated carry handle, a safety lanyard stop switch, a tool kit, and an owner's manual, all finished in Phantom Black, plus a three-blade composite propeller sized at 7.4 inches in diameter with a 7.0-inch pitch. The whole package is backed by Mercury Marine's three-year warranty, and since this motor ships new, there is no wear history to weigh before buying.