Monkie Kid

Sandy's Speedboat

A boat with real presence, sitting on top of a build that runs out of ideas fast.

Brick Rated Score

3.3/5

Set 80014 · 2020

Pieces394

Minifigs4

Year2020

Set number80014

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The verdict

The speedboat itself made me smile, it rolls across the floor on hidden wheels, it's got a six barrel stud shooter turret manned by a very grumpy looking cat, and the whole thing has a chunky, seaworthy silhouette that photographs well on a shelf.

Then you lift Sandy out of the cockpit and there's this awkward hollow gap where all the mechanism lives, and the spider mech that's supposed to be the second act feels thin next to it, more filler than centerpiece. This is a set for kids already hooked on the Monkie Kid show, or completists chasing the exclusive Spider Queen minifig, not for someone shopping purely on build quality per dollar.

Best for: Monkie Kid show fans and minifig collectors chasing the exclusive Spider Queen figure

The full review

What it is

I'll admit the boat won me over before I'd even finished it. It's got that mega-strong, slightly cartoonish speedboat look with a turret up top where a scowling cat minifig mans a six barrel rapid shooter, and the whole hull rolls on wheels so a kid can actually push it around the living room floor. That's the kind of physical, hands-on play feature that separates a good Monkie Kid set from a shelf display, and Brick Rated readers who've followed this theme know that's not a given.

The catch

Here's the part that knocked my enthusiasm down, though. Take Sandy out of his seat and the boat leaves this big awkward gap that exposes the guts of the build, all the studs and plates that were only ever meant to be hidden. And the second build, the Spider Queen's mech with its cave for three little spider figures, just doesn't hold up next to the boat. The legs feel underdesigned and the whole thing reads as filler rather than a genuine second act, which is a real letdown when you consider the set retired at $59.99 for only 394 pieces, a weaker piece to dollar ratio than most of its Season 1 siblings.

Who it's for

If you or your kid are already watching the Monkie Kid show and want Sandy, Pigsy, Monkie Kid, and that exclusive Spider Queen variant in one box, this earns its spot. If you're shopping purely on build satisfaction and part count value with no attachment to the theme, I'd point you toward one of the other Season 1 sets instead.

The parts story

What the build is actually like, and the pieces worth knowing about.

Building this one is a tale of two halves. The speedboat goes together with some genuinely clever techniques to get that rolling hull and turret mount working, and it's satisfying watching the shape come together. The spider mech, by contrast, snaps together fast and simple, which is fine for a younger builder but won't hold an experienced builder's attention for long.

The standout piece for me is the exclusive Spider Queen minifig variant, she doesn't appear in any other set from this wave, which makes her the real draw for collectors even more than the boat. The cat minifig, Mo, is also a fun oddball inclusion that captures the show's tone better than the main figures do. Part count wise, 394 pieces for the original $59.99 price point is on the lean side for this line, so I'd go in expecting to pay more for the play feature and the exclusive figure than for raw brick value.

Fun facts

0180014 Sandy's Speedboat released August 24, 2020 as part of Monkie Kid Season 1, and was retired around January 2021 after roughly 16 months on shelves.
02The Spider Queen minifigure included here is an exclusive variant not found in any other Monkie Kid set from that wave, making her the main collector draw.
03The set includes a bonus cat minifigure, Mo, manning the boat's six barrel stud shooter turret, a small touch that reviewers singled out as capturing the show's quirky humor.
04Reviewers consistently flagged the same weak point, once Sandy's minifig is removed from the cockpit, the hull exposes an unfinished looking gap where the play mechanism sits.