Although there are only 400 parts in the Lego™ Technic set, this set is tall. Proportion and balance are very similar to a real catamaran with a huge mast. It has two hulls with daggerboards. Thanks to its hulls, different than most other Lego sets, this one can float, at least mostly.
| Parts | 404 |
| Build Time | Around 1 hour |
| Released | Jan 2020 (Retired now) |
| Age | 8+ (You may still need to help) |
| Dimensions | 12” (32cm) long, 8” (22cm) wide and 17” (44cm) high |
| B-Model | Yes – Race Power Boat (It can also float) |
| Retail Price | $50, 40€, 35£ |
| Links | Lego Bricklink BrickEconomy |
Build
You first build the center of the catamaran. You start by adding two levers for the front sail (the jib sail) and the back sail (the main sail). Later you build two rudders and attach them to the back of the hulls. Rudders are controlled using a single 12 tooth black gear which is connected to the rudders using two technic links.
You build right and left hulls sequentially, but if you are careful you can parallelize this step because the build is mostly symmetrical. You attach a red single-stud piece to the left hull and one green single-stud piece to the right hull. If you search “navigation lights” usage in vessels, you will see that this choice is not arbitrary. The red light indicates a vessel’s port (left) side and the green light indicates a vessel’s starboard (right) side. Also, this navigation lights convention is followed by aircraft and even satellites.
You using a lever, gear rack and and some gears you can adjust the height of daggerboard.
Later you build the mast and connect it to the body of the catamaran and finally, you attach the sails to the catamaran’s mast. Building the mast is straightforward, just pay attention to direction of two “Axle Connectors with Axle Holes”, they should face the same direction.
Completed model is very tall. In some of the photos, I have included a Lego friends figure for you to appreciate the size of this boat.
B-Model
We haven’t build the B-Model. But from what we have seen from the pictures, sails are not used for B-model and for this reason, it is a lot smaller compared to the A-model. B-model can also float, it uses the same hulls.
Play Factors
- Although this set can float, Since it doesn’t have any motors and remote functionality, I don’t think this feature is very attractive. Since Lego motors and battery boxes are not sealed and heavy, motorizing this set isn’t practical. Also hulls are not water tight and sometimes water can sink in the hulls and can sink the boat. Don’t try it in a deep place, like a lake. You can buy a cheap RC boat for a lot less money and may have more fun. Or course it will not be as attractive as a Lego set for display purposes.
- If you use a stripe and blow with enough force, you can move this set in the water. This can be cool to try with your kids.
- There are two rudders on two hulls and both of them are simultaneously controlled by a black gear at the back.
- Angle of front and back sails can be adjusted independently by left and right levers. Sails can’t be folded, they are plastic.
- Each hull has a lever to raise and lower the daggerboards.
