Mercury 5HP 5MH Outboard

The Mercury 5HP 5MH is a new, compact portable outboard built for small boats that just need enough push to get moving: aluminum tiller boats, inflatable soft-hull boats, jon boats, utility boats, and sailboats using it as an auxiliary. Mercury lists it at just 57 lbs, light enough for one person to carry and mount without a hoist.

What it is for

This is a tiller-handle, hand-portable motor rather than a console-rigged unit, tuned for a quick launch off the line and a throttle that answers the moment you twist it, rather than a long cruising range. Multiple trim positions let you fine-tune running angle, including settings for shallow-water operation, and the through-prop exhaust keeps running noise down compared with motors that vent exhaust above the waterline.

Before you buy

Mercury does not publish a shaft length or fuel-tank capacity for this exact listing, so confirm those details with us before ordering if your hull is unusual or you are replacing a specific older motor. In general, a motor this light suits a boat you can also lift or trailer easily, since low weight at the transom is only half of what makes a small boat easy to handle; stowage and balance matter just as much.

Will this start easily in cold weather? Mercury markets this line for reliable starting and low vibration, though it does not give a specific cold-start rating for this unit.

Is this a good backup motor for a sailboat? Yes, its light weight and tiller handle make it a common auxiliary choice for small sailboats. Mercury outboards