Favorite Nautical Theme

[WesternOutlaw]

Over the past few days as I've been writing Mystery Ship and having taken out some of my nautical-related sets, it got me looking at boats, ships, and ports appreciating some of these great themes and sets. Of the nautical-related themes, there seems to be about five separate and distict themes (with a few other boats appearing in the City theme). I'm not including the less popular themes, but the better ones include:

- Nautica (1991): included great seaport sets like the Intercoastal Seaport and the Launch & Load Seaport

- Divers (1997), combination of small fishing/diving boats and subs

- Aquaraiders (2007): no ships or ports but some subs and underwater creatures

- City (2006/2007): includes the new Lego City Harbor, fire, and police boat

- And going way back, the Boat theme spanning the late 70s through the 90s: various classic boats released every few years.

Of these great themes, what is your favorite? Share your thoughts why.

[Shadows]

PIRATES aren't nautical enough for you, eh??? *pirate*

As for your list, I was either in my dark ages or not paying attention during the run of most of those (outside of the 80's boats, which I wasn't into at all). I don't think I'm qualified to vote here, unless it's "other" which seems to defeat the purpose.

I do remember liking the general idea behind a couple of the Adventurer's Amazon River boats, simple as they were.

[Siegfried]

I voted for Nautica, but Divers came a close second, and I feel that the current range could become the best if there are more sets..... :'-)

[WesternOutlaw]

I was looking for more modern city-related sets rather than pirates IS.

I think I have to go with Divers. I like the combination of the smaller fishing vessels and the underwater creatures and subs. My 2nd would probably be Nautica due to the great sea ports. I agree with you Sinner, in regard to the new line being the best if we see a few more in the line-up.

I would love a few more boats (i.e fishing and even a tug boat) *wub*

[Shadows]

Hey, I had to put out the good word for Pirates, you can't blame me ;-)

A glance through some pictures leads me to Nautica for a modern theme. Actually, I was surprised to find a complete lack of boats in Paradisa, or it might have won just for female minifig population X-D

[Opproperaar]

I voted divers cause the pirates weren't in the list :-D If they were however divers would still come in as a close second. It's so versatile I think.

If you have a bit of pirates and divers. I pretend a ghost ship sank and so many years later is visited by divers who find relics, treasures, horrifying secrets or whatever. Get them eaten by sharks, lost in the sea, possibilities are endless as far as I'm concerned. I even constructed a little ROV for my own divers which I have to post on your own creations forum soon. Just haven't gotten to it really :-P I just need to find a way to connect it to the sub with a cage and everything.

But a long story short; Pirates first, divers close second :-)

Edited September 3, 2007 by Hairy Ruben

[WesternOutlaw]

If you have a bit of pirates and divers. I pretend a ghost ship sank and so many years later is visited by divers who find relics, treasures, horrifying secrets or whatever.

Excellent concept. I had thought about something similar myself.

[Quarryman]

Even though I never had any of the sets (and this is about modern nautical sets) I have to go for Nautica here, mainly due to those magnificent harbours, and that lovely marina *wub* (6543)

Still, if the current harbour theme gets more sets of the same quality (I love my 7994, and I'm getting 7992 as soon as my student loan arrives ;-)) I think it could be really great. (but of course, Pirates beats them all easily *sweet* *pirate* (almost makes me wish I hadn't sold one of the two 10040s I bought back in March ;-)))

[Sir Dillon]

I have always liked Divers, so I voted for them. I also like the Aquaraiders, and I think they look better than the Divers, but I like how the Divers had boats and submarines.

[WesternOutlaw]

Divers had some really nice boats. They were small in comparison to the boats now, but very nicely designed. The white and blue color combination made them look good to. I like the new Aquaraiders theme, but there are no boats. This, I think, is a real shortfall of the theme.

[Batbrick]

I meant to click Divers, but accidentally chose Aquaraiders, so just ignore that vote. :-$ I agree with brickster in saying that an Aquaraiders boat would have boosted that theme a lot, I got sick of the subs. 8-|

[MatthewUSA]

I definitly *wub* the Nautica sets. I would have liked to see TLC take the new Seaport and create another similar sub-theme with it. I think TLC could have even added a Cruise Ship w/ dock to the mix. Plus I think two other sets I would *wub* to see added would be a Tanker w/ dock & Bulk Ship w/ dock. The list is endless. I really hope TLC will keep expanding on the "Seaport" concept.

[Shadows]

I meant to click Divers, but accidentally chose Aquaraiders, so just ignore that vote. :-$

I was wondering who actually voted for Aquaraiders X-D

[john cleese]

Divers were the best in my opinion. The subs were well built and the theme introduced some interesting elements. And lets not forget this

Edited September 5, 2007 by john cleese

[Minifig Lecturer]

Are ports from the mid-1990s not included?

If not, I guess my fave would be the big blue cargo ship from the 1980s.

[simonwillems]

Close call....

I love the nautica sets from the early nineties, but I haven't got one single set of them :-( They are quite expensive: the 6542 and 6541... Someday I'll buy them

So my vote goes to the Divers, I have every single set of that great theme, the combination of underwater scenes and beautiful surface vessels does it for me, along with the neat accessories such as flippers, airtanks and harpoon-rifles. *wub*

[captaintau]

What about Star Wars. We have the Gungan Sub and... we have the Gungan Sub.

The Tank droid and Dwarf Spider Droid both run underwater. Wookiee Catamaran?

Batman has a Batboat. There's the Crocboat and the Penguin sub and Robin's thingy in the Batcave.

I have some water-type things from city from when I was a kid. I have black and red (IIRC) two-person motor boat that I loved.

I've voted Aqua Raiders as I've started to enjoy that theme. Its the only non-theatre theme that I've got since coming out of my dark ages

[Quarryman]

Are ports from the mid-1990s not included?

Now you made me curious, what ports are you referring to? (assuming that I'm terrible at searching for sets ;-)) Can't find any ports from mid-1990s..

(and now I see that the Marina I linked to earlier isn't a part of Nautica.. oh well, my vote would still go to Nautica, even though it's a closer gap down to Divers now ;-))

[WesternOutlaw]

Now you made me curious, what ports are you referring to?

6541 Intercoastal Seaport - 1991

6542 Launch & Load Seaport - 1991

Aren't these great sets? They were both part of the Nautica theme.

[Minifig Lecturer]

Yes, the were the ports I was referring too. Great sets!

[Quarryman]

6541 Intercoastal Seaport - 1991

6542 Launch & Load Seaport - 1991

Aren't these great sets? They were both part of the Nautica theme.

I completely agree that they are great sets, they are, after all, the primary reason that I voted for Nautica :-)

I just wondered because Calvin said mid-1990s, and I don't consider 1991 to be "mid-1990s" ;-)

[zouave]

PIRATES aren't nautical enough for you, eh??? *pirate*

I voted other after reading this.

[WesternOutlaw]

Pirates have been excluded for a reason. This poll was intened to be for modern vessels and sea ports.

[Minifig Lecturer]

I just wondered because Calvin said mid-1990s, and I don't consider 1991 to be "mid-1990s" ;-)

Well 1991 is mid-90s in my book :-D

Nah, I could remember so I was just guessing...

[WesternOutlaw]

I'm curious to see why some of you voted for Boats? I'm thinking the old classic police boat and fireboat?

Does anyone know the 1st Lego boat that actually floated? I think I know, but would have to check. I still have it, but am missing one of the sections.