Friends

Sea Rescue Boat

A little research catamaran with the best dolphins LEGO has made in years.

Brick Rated Score

3.8/5

Set 41734 · 2023

Pieces717

Minifigs4

Year2023

Set number41734

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The verdict

The dolphins are what got me here, and honestly they carry the whole set.

This is a research catamaran that opens into a floating marine lab, and for once a Friends boat feels like it has a real job to do rather than just looking cute at the dock. It is not the best value in the theme and the sticker sheet is a slog, but the build runs long and stays interesting the whole way. If you or a young builder loves ocean animals, this one earns its shelf space.

Best for: Ocean-obsessed kids (and adult Friends fans) who want a set with a genuine sense of purpose

The full review

What it is

I have a soft spot for Friends sets that commit to a theme, and the Sea Rescue Boat commits hard. It is a twin-hull research catamaran that folds open into a working marine lab, and it comes with a small submarine, a baby dolphin, and two adult dolphins that are genuinely the highlight of the whole thing. The first time I clicked the dolphins into place I actually paused, because they are a proper new print (dark blue bodies dusted with pale spots) modeled on the real Atlantic Spotted Dolphin. LEGO clearly did their homework, and it shows. The four mini-dolls are Aliya and Nova from the core cast plus captain Gunnar and his friend Marco, and it is a small treat to finally see Nova in a swimsuit with the rescue center logo instead of her usual gaming gear.

The catch

I will be straight with you about the caveats, because there are a few. At 79.99 dollars for 717 pieces, the value is a touch below what the average Friends set gives you, though it still lands ahead of LEGO overall. The bigger drag is the sticker sheet, which is one of the largest I have wrestled with in a while, and if fiddly decal work makes you sigh, you will sigh here. There is also a funny little irony that a boat built entirely around ocean rescue does not float, so this is a shelf-and-carpet playset rather than a bathtub one. None of that is a dealbreaker, but it is the honest reason this sits as a very good set rather than a great one.

Who it's for

This is an easy yes if you or a young builder in your life is ocean-mad, into marine biology, or just wants a Friends set that feels like it has a mission instead of a mall. The long build time makes it satisfying for a rainy afternoon, and the animals give the finished model real play value. I would steer away if you are hunting pure parts value, or if you know stickers will ruin the experience for you. But if the idea of a floating dolphin lab makes you smile, trust that instinct, because the finished thing is a lot of fun.

The parts story

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

Building this is more engaging than I expected from a mid-size Friends boat. The twin hulls give it an unusual silhouette, and the way the deck opens up to reveal the lab keeps the build from feeling like one long flat plate. You move through distinct zones (the living quarters with their beds and shower, the kitchenette, the science bench) so your hands are always doing something new rather than repeating the same technique. The little submarine is a quick, satisfying side build that breaks up the main hull work nicely. My only running gripe is that sticker sheet, which interrupts the flow every time you reach for it.

The standout pieces are absolutely the dolphins. The two adults are a brand-new print exclusive to this set, dark blue with bright light-blue spots, and the existing baby dolphin mold in light aqua sits right alongside them thanks to how real dolphin calves stay paler. Parts hunters will also spot a fresh yellow recolor of the 1x4x2 bar element that debuted around this wave. It is not a set stuffed with rare bricks, but the printed animals alone make the parts breakdown worth a look, and they are the reason this set outlives its play phase on a lot of shelves.

Fun facts

01The two adult dolphins are exclusive to this set and were printed to resemble the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, with darker mottled bodies rather than the usual bottlenose look LEGO had reused for years.
02It marked one of the first times Nova appeared without any gaming motif on her outfit, swapping her usual controller-and-phone look for a swimsuit with the rescue center logo.
03The set launched on June 1, 2023 at an RRP of 79.99 dollars (74.99 pounds / 84.99 euros) as part of a three-set Sea Rescue subtheme.
04Despite being an ocean rescue vessel, the catamaran does not float, so all its water adventures happen on dry land.