A vessel propulsion apparatus includes a prime mover, a drive shaft, a pinion, a rear gear, a propeller shaft, a front bearing, a cylindrical front housing, and a cylindrical rear housing. The front housing surrounds the front bearing about a propeller axis and supports the rear gear via the front bearing in a manner rotatable about the propeller axis. The rear housing is disposed behind the front housing. The front housing surrounds the propeller shaft about the propeller axis and supports the propeller shaft at a position more rearward than the rear gear in a manner rotatable about the propeller axis.