SBCMayor

I really enjoyed ranking the sets in the first wave and really appreciated the responses and ensuing discussion. In that discussion I mentioned I'd eventually share some thoughts on the second wave, which I consider 1992-1993. The shift from the Imperial Soldiers to Imperial Guards marks the beginning of the second wave. And while I realize the Imperial Guards were still making appearances after 1993, by 1994 the Islanders had more or less replaced them. And while the Islanders were a pretty cool theme in their own right, I never really got into them or really any of the pirate sets after 1993. I am not going to try to rank the entire second wave the way I did the first wave, though I definitely will rank the biggest sets at the end. Instead I want to share a few thoughts on what I love about the second wave. First and most obviously: the switch from blue to red. This is such an awesome concept and as a kid I loved that Lego did it. I love it as an adult now. I loved the potential that a peer force to the Imperial Guards was in play now. The 1992 series was basically the Imperial Flagship and Imperial Trading Post with a few smaller complementary sets. On the pirate side Lego was still coasting from the Black Seas Barracuda, Forbidden Island, and Rock Island Refuge so they really didn't need anything big on that side. But the dynamic the introduction of the Imperial Guards made...epic! By 1992 I had a few soldier sets, most notably Lagoon Lockup and Sabre Island, with a few others to shore up my small imperial force. But when the 1992 lineup came out I immediately bought the Bounty Boat and Smuggler's Shanty as well as hit up my parents for the Imperial Flagship for Christmas. When I actually got it, I had a nice little force of both Soldiers and Guards, and a nice band of pirates (without a ship). I really liked the Imperial Trading Post too, and had a cousin who had both that and the Imperial Flagship. So that didn't create any envy or anything. But the second wave wasn't done yet. 1993 brought some amazing additions. Still trying to build my Imperial Guard force, I bought Cannon Cove, even though I didn't really care for the design and still don't. What I should have done was hold onto my mowing money until I could get the Renegade Runner, Lego's first "small" pirate ship. I loved that they issued a smaller ship instead of a hideout. Seems pirates would have plenty of each but so far our lego pirates had two major hideouts and a couple smaller ones, but only one ship. I loved the thought of multiple pirate ships, either sailing together or as rival gangs. And of course, since I had an Imperial Flagship, I needed a pirate ship to hunt down, not a lame outpost like Cannon Cove. Definitely should have held onto my money for the bigger better, more complementary set. Thankfully my parents sort of helped me make up for my mistake by getting the Renegade Runner for my little brother. And of course, who can forget the big gun in 1993, the Skull's Eye Schooner. At the time I was like, "whoa, a bigger, scarier Black Seas Barracuda!" If that is what they were going for it definitely worked. A few months ago when I decided to try to collect some of these vintage sets I did acknowledge I probably wouldn't buy both ships. My sentiment was biased toward the BSB because of the imagination it inspired. But I gave the SES a long look as well because I remember the intimidation factor that ship presented. But as an adult, watching many a video review of both ships, and considering the cost on sites like Ebay and Bricklink, this was an easy choice. And so, where would I rank the top 4 sets from the second wave? Fourth Place: Skull's Eye Schooner. I know this set was supposed to be the big one from this wave, but I can't put it above the other 3 big offerings. While it is definitely a cool ship in its own right, I just don't see it as an improvement over the BSB. If the 1989 and 1991 sets never existed, this would be ranked higher. But even if I'm trying to consider this second wave completely within itself, it's hard to remove that bias. This ship doesn't anchor the wave the way the BSB does for the first wave. Third Place: Renegade Runner. Ironically enough, the smallest ship in the series does a lot its larger counterpart can't do. First and foremost: accessibility! In 1993 this little beauty would set you back just $40 USD, less than 1/3 of the cost of a SES. $40 and you are on your way to pillaging and plundering then making a fast escape in your small, fast ship. Obviously the design left some room for improvement. I don't like the swivel gun and the ship is missing its wheel (which makes sense from a playable perspective). It could benefit from some rigging pieces too. Secondly, the RR fills a niche role in the series. It's not a fort, it's a ship. But a small one. I love that instead of another pirate hideout Lego gave us another ship. I now have two of these and they make for fine escorts to Captain Redbeard's flagship, the Black Seas Barracuda. Second Place: Imperial Trading Post. I remember this set being just epic when I was a kid. I love that they didn't just do another El Dorado Fortress for the big set, but went trading post instead. I love the merchant figures and the small merchant ship. And while I have a strong bias for ships over forts, the difference between this set and the Renegade Runner is just immense. I've not yet purchased this in my shopping spree and it's not a definite that I will. This set holds its value on secondary markets, so finding one that is nice, playable, but not quite collector grade can be a bit tricky. But if I happen to find one, it'll be hard for me to resist. First Place: Imperial Flagship. I just love this ship. It was my first ship in this series when I was a kid, and it'll always be a very special set for that reason. My parents were not well off by any stretch, and this beauty cost around $50 in 1992 so I felt very fortunate to get it. I feel even more fortunate to have gotten a very clean copy today for under $180! It is in immaculate shape and just like it did when it entered my little corner of the Lego Carribean in 1992, will very likely cause some havoc to both the Soldiers and Pirates alike today too. As for the smaller sets, I had several though none of them were as awe inspiring to me as the first wave. And while I liked the change in design emphasis from Eldorado to ITP I really do not care for any of the smaller imperial sets. I mentioned I "settled" for Cannon Cove as a kid, but I am not making that mistake again. I've purchased an extra Sabre Island and swapped out the Soldiers for Imperial Guards. I am doing the same thing to Lagoon Lockup. I may not ever get that ITP but I've got to give their ground forces something! And while this is just my opinion, I think it reflects, at least for me, how much better the first wave is than the second. So let me know your thoughts. Do you agree, or are you all ready to make me walk the plank?

I'm bumping this old thread after 11 years. I wanted the Caribbean Clipper so badly when it came out in 1989. I wasn't fortunate enough to get it, but I did get the Imperial Flagship in 1992. My fondness for the pirate series and both Imperial Soldiers and Imperial Guards never fully dissipated, and as an adult I've recently purchased two copies of Carribean Clipper and one Imperial Flagship. After waiting for 35 years the Carribean Clipper has been worth it. The Imperial Flagship will also always have a special place in my heart as my first, and until recently, only Lego pirate series ship. I don't think a fan of the Pirate line can go wrong with either ship. I recall studying the catalogues, boxes, and pictures carefully as a kid and the first thing I noticed about the Imperial Flagship was it has a slimmed down hull. Even as a kid with virtually no knowledge of ship design I figured this to be a smaller, lighter, faster, and more maneuverable ship than the CC. I wasn't really worried about the "too short for its width" critique of the CC and having now assembled 2 of them as an adult I'm still not. As far as lego models go, I consider the CC a great representation of an entry-level gun ship. Not a sloop but definitely not a ship of the line! So I'll share some thoughts on some specific features: Overall design: Carribean Clipper. Again, I don't think a fan of lego tall ships can go wrong with either. I immediately loved the overall look of the IF when I first assembled it, but it will not ever be able to top its 1989 counterpart. There is just something about those first-wave ships that did it for me, and while the IF has some amazing overall design triumphs, I just think the CC is better. Rigging: Imperial Flagship. Even as a kid in 1989 with limited (non-existent) knowledge of ship design, the rigging piece on the CC bothered me. As an adult I get it: piece count. It's not just that they saved 1 rigging piece, it's they had to save on the entire front end assembly to make the rigging piece align to the proper mast height. By 1992 they had introduced a shorter rigging piece for the IF, resulting in that detail favoring the IF over the CC. Cabin space: Carribean Clipper. And by a lot. Granted neither of these ships are going to wow even the lowest ranking officer with their accommodations, but the CC at least has the space and potential to modify and customize a suitable cabin area. While the IF features the functioning rudder, as a kid I would have rather had a more realistic cabin toward the stern than a "real" rudder. That was a play feature I never used anyway, so for me it's not a win. (I do appreciate the addition of the window on the command deck of the IF, giving the appearance of a cabin if you are viewing from behind. At least they did that.) Width: Carribean Clipper. I've read here and on multiple other comparison threads for these two ships that the CC is too short for how wide it is. I disagree. I love the ability to put 2 more guns in each of my models, making them both far more formidable mid-weights. The IF will never have that option. Even if I never add to the CC's firepower, I love having the option to do so. Crew: Carribean Clipper. As a kid, I actually didn't like that they made the CC crew wear the tricorn hats and no backpacks. I LOVED the way the standard enlisted soldiers looked and felt like you couldn't get enough of them. But as an adult I like this feature a lot more about it and wish the IF had followed this as well. Ground forces look different from sailors so the guys you'd see working the ship wouldn't look the same as those you'd see on ground or even as a boarding party or expeditionary force embarked on the vessel. Also, reading others comments, I see the one figure isn't a pirate but a deckhand. I always treated him like a pirate with my set. Originality: Carribean Clipper. This ship did a better job as a smaller, less expensive "good guys" option opposite its pirate counterpart, the Black Seas Barracuda than the IF does with its contemporaries the Skull's Eye Schooner and Renegade Runner, both of which came out in 1993. The original wave of Lego Pirates just changed so much. The IF definitely makes some design improvements on the CC, but the CC literally helped invent the genre. And that brings me to my overall opinion: Overall winner: Carribean Clipper. For me it's an obvious choice. I love both. I'd rather have either than pretty much anything else from any other series, TBH. I like the pirate series that much. But if I must pick one over the other, there is simply no competing with those initial 1989 releases. So I voted accordingly.

Correct, US dollars. My son and I built them both Friday night. We combined Eldorado with Lagoon Lockup and two Sabre Islands to make one larger fort. We combined Forbidden Island with Shipwreck island and another large island printed baseplate to make an extended pirate hideout. I'm working on putting together one extended set up and I have a few more sets coming. At this point I've exceeded the budget (not by too much but still have a budget...) I had for this little hobby so I'll be pausing any more purchases for a while after this wave of sets and accessories arrives. I'll get a few pics up in a couple days and you'll be able to see where I'm taking things.

I have considered this. Converting the BSB to an imperial ship. It would be easy to do since the sails are Identical to the CC other than the color. I think the larger imperial ship is actually more realistic anyway. While the large, intimidating gunship makes for great lore, and there were examples of them, sloops were actually the most common type of vessel used as pirate ships. Sloops were fast and had a shallow draft, so they were suitable on open ocean and superior to larger ships in coastal inlet regions. Bermuda sloops were especially common because of their speed and hull design made them especially maneuverable. The Renegade Runner is a great example of a Lego pirate sloop. With that said, Blackbeard had a small fleet featuring Queen Anne's Revenge, a Frigate formerly the La Concorde of the French Navy and two sloop escorts. He ran QAR aground (some say intentionally) on a sandbar off the coast of North Carolina, and transferred supplies and his most trusted crew members to escape on one of the sloops. He left others behind, and Stede Bennett picked them up. So examples of larger pirate ships do exist, and as a large pirate ship the BSB really cannot be topped. I've purchased two Renegade Runners to serve as escort vessels to Captain Redbeard's flagship. I want to make a small fleet reminiscent of Blackbeard's. I may convert it to an imperial ship just to take a few pictures but then I'll return it to its original state as a pirate ship.

Eldorado was $153 and Forbidden Island $70. And again the only major problem was the clips on the flags. A little discoloring on some of the white bricks on Eldorado. Both came with instructions and the manuals were both in great shape. I think I got a really good deal because I've seen both of these go for much more. It's part of why I tried bidding instead of outright purchasing and I think that strategy worked. Seller had them to me within 3 days of purchase. Thank you! I actually already have a replacement coming somewhat indirectly. I've purchased another Lagoon Lockup and Sabre Island and some of the red Imperial Guard Flags. I just don't like any of their sets enough to pay what they cost. Except Imperial Trading Post. So I'm repurposing a couple sets I actually like, and that'll lend me a replacement flag and one on standby for the soldiers. I don't have the know-how to do some of these Mocs I see. I think those are awesome but I'm not on that level. I just combine what's already available. So I've got a nice collection built up. A lot of pirates (Redbeard has a couple clones...) and soldiers to fight them off. I've focussed on building a small contingent of Imperial Guards now, thought not as expansive a force as the soldiers. Together they can form a strategic alliance to battle the pirates. Or they can pay off the pirates and offer them commissions as privateers to attack the other side's vessels and outposts. Loads of fun.

It has been years since I've seen the original Eldorado Fortress alongside Forbidden Island side by side. I worked from home today and they arrived with 2 hours or so to go in my workday. Since I had a few commitments after work it took everything I had to stay disciplined and not put them together on company time! Anyway, maybe after I do get them put together I'll have a change of heart. I'm glad you enjoyed the discussion on this thread!

Just arrived! After a little engagement from @SpacePolice89 I decided to bid on Eldorado Fortress on Ebay and while I was at it, also bid on Forbidden Island. Turns out both were sold by the same seller and I won both. That worked out nicely because I got a little back on shipping cost. I've done a quick inspection of the pieces and for the price I paid for both sets I feel I've done well! Some of the white bricks on Eldorado are a bit yellowed, but I can replace them over time. The raised base plate is in immaculate shape. The clips on the flags are broken, but the listings for both items had pictures of this so I am not complaining. These toys, all of the ones I've purchased so far, have a lot of life left in them! I am excited I keep hitting paydirt with the orders I select and look forward to getting these set up.

Same for me. I loved the first wave, was still on board during the second wave, but by 1995 I was in high school and by 1996 I had a drivers license and my first car. Funny how all these years later I am not even close to interested in buying the first kind of car I owned. But I am buying up vintage Legos now.

Thank you for sharing those! I might have found them eventually over the next couple weeks, but it helps to have them all in one place! I'll def check them out! I'm not looking to do anything over the top. No conventions, I'm not boxing it all up to set up a display for others to enjoy. I think that is very commendable though. Sharing this with others is awesome and you never know who you're going to inspire when you do something like that. I just don't have the bandwidth and while I definitely have the passion, I'd actually consider myself a novice when it comes to collecting. I have a room in my home that is more or less a dedicated Lego room and along one wall I have a countertop that is 23" by 138" so a nice size for an easily assembled display. It'll be against a plain white painted wall backdrop, and I've wondered how realistic it would be to try to capture that same purple/grey style sky in the background of the original set box art and instructions (I'm actually color blind so light purple/grey may not be the actual color scheme but it's what I see). I'd love to print that on some nice firm stationary and just tack it to the wall behind the setup. We'll see though.

I know it's been over 3 years since someone has commented on this post, but to @PxChris bravo!!! This setup you have is just awesome. I've what you did with the mirroring Sabre Island outposts, and I was actually going to do the same thing with them flanking the Lagoon Lockup! Did you ever get the Rock Island Refuge set?

I do too. Like I said in my other post Burried Treasure was my first set in the series and I have always had a special place in my heart for it.

Ok, hyperlinks inserted so it'll be a little more informative to anyone who reads later.

That's one of the biggest downsides with the soldiers and was an even bigger downside with the Imperial Guards. Too many officers and not enough soldiers! Generally for every officer you'll only get 2 soldiers, and it's closer to 1:1 with the Imperial Guards. That is one thing the original El Dorado Fortress did well: 4 soldiers and 1 officer (I don't count the governor/general/commodore). And I am glad you have weighed in because for someone on the fence the way I have been, hearing from another vintage enthusiast makes a difference. I am leaning more heavily on the original now based on your input. My lego room has a wall of built in cabinets with a 23" by 11'6" countertop I am considering making one big tribute to Lego pirates. I am confident I can create a wide swath the Caribbean here, with room enough for forts, pirate hideouts, and an epic sea battle between the Caribbean Clipper and Black Seas Barracuda. Like you did with your displays, I'd work some of the smaller sets in as well. Thank you for your feedback. I actually stayed away from photos because I didn't want to stray into copywrite issues, and I don't have each set to insert my own photo. But a link to each set would have been easy to do so well noted!

I like the new one and was very excited about it when I saw it release. I like they took the small merchant ship, a feature from the 1992 Imperial Trading Post. I have gone back and forth between the original or the new generation set. One reason I prefer the original is the print on the figures. The new figures are similar and more elaborate. Usually that would be a plus, but I just like the simplicity of that first generation pirate series. I like the way the new set can be opened up and there are additional features in the rock formation on which the fortress is built. It's definitely an improvement because it increases the playable features, but it's just not as classic as the original. Like every other lego pirate set that came after 1989, it just doesn't capture my imagination the way the original does. Also, I really like the setup you have for your display. It is so fun to tie sets in together and integrate them into one cohesive build. Many of the vintage sets I am purchasing are in very good condition and even though they will still get a lot of play time (I have kids of my own now) I eventually want to build up a complete display. My lego room has the perfect spot for it and I may tinker with a few arrangements to develop proof of concept.

I almost ranked it above Rock Island Refuge but had to account for bias as well as be consistent. I did say pirate hideouts are inherently cooler and they are. But Lagoon Lockup is a perfect addition to the series, a nice "in-between" Sabre Island and El Dorado. The pirate side didn't receive any such offering for 1991, just a bigger version of Forbidden Island. And from a marketing place, I guess I understand. They wanted a higher priced item. The bigger, more elaborate sets get attention, and not everyone can afford them but may still buy smaller sets within the theme. I am going to hold off for now. I would like to get the original El Dorado Fortress and if I do that, but I may stick to the Icons version. I also may collect a few more of the pirate sets from the following waves, and I do eventually want to raise a small force of Imperial Guards. I had the Imperial Flagship when it came out and wouldn't hate to have another one. My cousin had the Imperial Trading Post and the Flagship, and together these would be epic. But that's a lot of $$$! And aside from those two, there aren't any really epic sets for the Imperial Guards. Cannon Cove is nowhere close to as awesome as Sabre Island for example. If I do add any Imperial Guards, I'd likely just buy a third Sabre Island and convert it to the Red team.

I love the displays! I see you have a little Smuggler's Shanty worked into the large combined pirate's base! A couple others in there too. I love working these smaller sets into the larger ones, though as a kid I didn't have too many of the larger ones so the smaller ones sort of just sat there on make believe reefs!

Thank you, but you are overestimating my knowledge! Some memory, yes, some research as my interest and ability to begin collecting some of these again has taken off. Yes, I was born in 1980, so I had a few smaller space themed sets, police car, delivery van. But Lego was not really my favorite toy until the pirates arrived. Today I have several city series that I've combined with a few creator series to make a thriving little beach city. I've augmented the lego sets with a few off-brand base plates to better integrate them with the new style lego road pieces. I found a brand that makes a two-sided beach print so that's what I've used. It's not a custom build at all. It's literally just sets combined together in a fun, playable way. Just outside of town and below the surface of the water is an underwater research facility. We call it Surf Bay City and it serves as the inspiration for my screen name. As far as the original wave of the pirate series, I've purchased: Black Seas Barracuda (Dark Shark, which means working cannons!) Caribbean Clipper x2 Forbidden Island Sabre Island x2 Lagoon Lockup Buried Treasure I've also purchased a second wave set, the Renegade Runner. My copy came without the string so I'll be looking for a replacement. My little brother had this set and I had 1992's Imperial Flagship from this wave. I will discuss the Imperial Soldiers more in a later post! In addition to these sets I have bought a few stand alone accessories and figures. I also have the creator 3-1 pirate ship which is a very nice build if anyone is considering it. While the style is very different from the older ships, it's Lego so who cares? These pirates are about to besiege a modern city after all, so does the style of ship really matter? I have a Captain Jack Sparrow figure who was recently the victim of a mutiny. I used the sailboat from Lagoon Lockup to re-create his epic entry into the first POTC movie (profile pic). I'm glad I am not the only one who allowed my sentimental side to rank this one higher than it would be if all we considered just the sets themselves. I certainly can't argue with your logic, and honestly if I could go back to 1989 and relive every time I got a set, this one probably created the most excitement. It's definitely cool. There wasn't a set from that 1989 lineup that I didn't want. Have you been able to compare the original with the Icons reissue?

I did a lot of dreaming while staring at catalogues too!

With both year's rankings shared individually, here's how I'd combine the entire first wave of the Lego Pirate Series: 15th Place: Renegade Raft (1991) 14th Place: Pirates Desert Island (1991) 13th Place: Harbour Sentry (1989) 12th Place: Castaway's Raft (1989) 11th Place: Pirate Minifigures (1989) 10th Place: Burried Treasure (1989). Again, this may seem like an absurdly high ranking for this otherwise simple set especially since it really doesn't offer anything the minifigure set doesn't. It benefits from a lot of nostalgia for my rankings. 9th Place: Broadside's Brig (1991) 8th Place: Shipwreck Island (1989) 7th Place: Sabre Island (1989) 6th Place: Lagoon Lockup (1991) 5th Place: Rock Island Refuge (1991). This is where it gets interesting. While I have a bias for pirate hideouts over imperial forts, I just don't know that Rock Island Refuge is actually better than Forbidden Island. Now I have to admit something: this is a first wave set I've never actually seen fully assembled. But the idea of a large pirate hideout was already explored and this set might improve upon the basic design, but not the concept. So I've got it here. 4th Place and up: unchanged from the 1989 series. With all the possible upsets to the initial rankings accounted for there's no need to repeat what is already on record! I think the only thing left to discuss in among the top 5 sets is why Forbidden Island over Rock Island Refuge, or why not Rock Island Refuge over El Dorado Fortress? I think for me it has to do with originality. While I prefer pirate hideouts over imperial forts, I consider this more of a guideline than a rule. I've ranked Sabre Island over Shipwreck Island for example. But Rock Island suffers from the same sequel curse as any movie out there, and to make up for the originality it's lacking they have to up the sensational aspect by making it bigger and more elaborate. That's not to say I don't think it's a cool set. Any of these vintage pirate sets are better than their similarly priced counterparts from other themes in their respective eras. Some final thoughts on this first wave: One thing I love about this series is the chrome gold coins. Something else that I miss is the yellow brick colors to represent sand. Newer legos have a gorgeous color scheme that more closely resembles sand and different shades of water, depending on depth, sunlight, etc. But since 1989 I have never been able to see a flat yellow lego piece without thinking about the sand of Caribbean beaches, pirates, and adventure. In 1992 the series saw what I consider the first major change to the series with the soldiers being replaced for the Imperial Guards. This made for a cool element, really. I always interpreted the bluecoats as Spaniards and the red as British. I've watched many videos that suggest the blue are interpreted as French. At any rate, having a second imperial force made for a great play narrative, because the French/Spanish vs British with the pirates being opportunists playing both sides was a natural direction to take my play. But I just don't feel like anything that came after that first wave can compete. I would love to hear how others feel on this wave of the series, or anything I've shared!

With the 1989 wave released I want to also take a look at the 1991 releases. I still consider these part of the first wave since Lego didn't make any significant changes to the series until 1992 when they, most notably, swapped out the blue coats (Soldiers) for red (Imperial Guards). I'll share some thoughts on that later. For 1991, here's where I would rank the 5 sets: 5th Place: 6234, Renegade's Raft. I didn't have this one and don't really see it as a "must have" unless someone is going all in on collecting each set in the series. The most exciting thing about this set is the shark. 4th Place: 1481, Pirates Desert Island. This is a simple entry-level set reminiscent of 1989's Buried Treasure. I have it above Renegade's raft because you still get the shark, but you also get a parrot and some treasure. I had this one but it doesn't quite invoke the memories of its 1989 counterpart. 3rd Place: 6259, Broadside's Brig. This is another one I had when it came out. I liked how it was a nice complement to Sabre Island, but maybe a little further back from the water. I liked how for a relatively small price I got both a small fort, and pirate AND soldier mini-figures. It's a solid small, but not quite entry-level addition to this series. It could have benefitted from one of those awesome palm trees, but I understand they were trying to keep piece count and price down. 2nd Place: 6267, Lagoon Lock-up. Take Broadside's Brig, give it some protein, a workout plan, and some time, and the result is this set! I got this for Christmas in 1991 and it has always been one of my favorites. I loved the sets that offered both pirate and soldier figures because that helped me ensure an even balance of power in my fictitious Caribbean. Because of my fond memories of this set it was one of the first ones I re-ordered. As a kid I combined this with Sabre Island for a small water-front outpost. It looked great then, and upon assembling my now 35 and 33 year old versions of these sets, it looks just as good now. 1st Place: 6273, Rock Island Refuge. Was this really a contest? While I love the Lagoon Lockup, I said already the idea of a pirate hideout is inherently cooler than an imperial fort. Add in the size difference between these two and it's really not even a contest. Rock Island Refuge is a "flagship" offering for the 1991 additions to the series, taking 1989's Forbidden Island and beefing it up. Gone is the flat, printed baseplate, and it's now on one of those raised baseplates. I like this because it adds texture/terrain, but without an actual fort on top. Is it better than its predecessor? I'll weigh in on that in my next post. Overall thoughts on 1991: These sets are great complements to the 1989 series. I had 3 of 5 of these, which was solid for me. I do think the series could have benefitted from a medium-sized pirate offering to off-set Lagoon Lock-up. Perhaps a small sloop that has been commandeered by pirates? (That's a concept they'd eventually get to in 1993's Renegade Runner.) I think maybe a tavern where pirates could recharge after a long day of pillaging and plundering would have been a nice option. As a kid (and a bit of a history buff) I also figured those soldiers would be guarding something, like a colonial settlement. So I wonder if maybe taking the series in that direction would have been good? Next up, I'll combine my ratings and share some final thoughts on the this first wave of the Lego pirate series!

Hey, everyone, I am new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself by sharing my ranking of the entire first wave pirate series. I'll rank the 1989 wave separate from the 1991 wave and then rank them together. While any ranking like this is obviously a matter of opinion, I'll share that my thought process combines some rationale as an adult but also takes into account both the excitement some of these sets generated when I first saw them on the toy department shelves to the nostalgia they invoke when I unbox a recent purchase from the secondary market. I own or have owned all but a couple of these sets and will indicated which ones are which as I go. For those that I've never owned, I had significant exposure to as a child because friends or relatives had them, creating a lot of envy for me! But enough of that. Let's get to the rankings! 1989 Series (10 sets): 10th Place: 6245, Harbour Sentry. I had this set as a kid and it never really did anything overly exciting for me. I pretty much got it just so I'd have a bluecoat soldier to fight some pirates. The cannon and the row boat are impressive pieces for such a small set and I know a lot of people are going to question my ranking but there you have it. 9th Place: 6257, Castaway's Raft. Another set I had as a kid and a very challenging ranking choice given it's a small set with some cool figures and a shark. But it was another one that, while I was glad I had it, was certainly not a must-have to me. I've not yet decided if I'll try to purchase the entire 1989 series, and if I do it'll be the only reason I purchase this one. 8th Place: 6251, Pirate Minifigures. I've got this one ranked about the other two because it was an inexpensive way to collect some figures as well as a healthy plunder! I loved the combination of pirate and soldier characters, the parrot, and of course the treasure. The pre-cursor to the modern battle pack, I had this set as a kid as I was trying to expand the figures I had available for pirate themed play. 7th Place: 6235, Buried Treasure. Okay, hear me out. I've got this ranked relatively high because both in 1989 and in 2024 this was my first entry into the pirate theme. This set retailed for around $3 back when it came out, and even though my family lived on a tight margin my parents were kind enough to spring for this set for me and my two siblings one epic Friday night. I finally had my first pirate set! Inspired by our tiny foothold into the theme, my brother and I fashioned smaller, less elaborate versions of the two ships of this line, using paper sails and the multicolored bricks we had available. And eventually I was fortunate enough to add to my pirate collection, but this set came first and this year when I decided to research the secondary market for these vintage sets, it was the first one I bought. 6th Place: 6260, Shipwreck Island. I had the Castaway's Raft, my brother had this. As soon as he brought it home I wished I had waited the additional two weeks for another couple bucks of allowance/chore money! This set just about had it all, the monkey, the parrot, the treasure, and one of those amazing first generation Lego palm trees. I loved the tropical look and feel and made this one of the first sets I ordered as I've embarked on my nostalgic journey through this first wave. 5th Place: 6265, Sabre Island. My envy of my brother's Shipwreck Island was short lived when a well timed blizzard provided an industrious little boy with an opportunity. Armed with my snow-shovel I braved the elements and came back with a plunder worthy of a trip to Isle 12 of the local Walmart to buy this set. (I just had to wait for the roads to be plowed, said my mom.) This one, like Buried Treasure, holds a lot of sentimental value to me. This is the set that introduced me to the pirate them when my cousin had it. This set and the pirate theme took my interest in Legos from just another toy in my room to my favorite of all time. So when I was able to buy it I was stoked. And all these years later I am stoked again to have found an incredibly well-preserved copy for a reasonable price. 4th Place: 6276, Eldorado Fortress. While this set seems to have it all going for it, I can't rank it any higher. Among the "Big 4" from 1989 this one was the least exciting to me, though I still felt it was amazing. A very close friend had this set and I loved the raised baseplate and tower-like structure. But the previous 6 sets were smaller and sets I could likely mow lawns or shovel snow to earn, and of the big 4 if I was asking for one for Christmas it was going to be one of the next three. I am on the fence between going all in on the 1989 sets or opting for the Lego Icons version of this set. 3rd Place: 6270, Forbidden Island. I have this ranked above El Dorado because the idea of a pirate hideout is just inherently cooler than an imperial fort. My friend who had El Dorado also had this one. We all mused how this and El Dorado were grown up versions of Shipwreck and Sabre Islands respectively. The island print baseplate for this was in my opinion, way better than the raised baseplate. Like Shipwreck island, the palm leaves gave this set an incredible tropical look and feel. I have this set on my wishlist, but found the printed baseplate as a standalone item. 2nd Place: 6274, Caribbean Clipper. Price and piece count wise, this was smaller than El Dorado fortress but a ship will always be ranked higher than a fort. I could always build a fort out of the bricks I had available, but I could not get anything I had to remotely resemble this ship. Naturally this was high on my birthday and Christmas wish list, but I never was lucky enough to get it as a kid. This year I rectified that. I now have this set and it holds up. I am fortunate that the copy I received is in fantastic condition and I paid under $200 for it. I've also ordered a second copy that appears to be in even better shape. (After seeing the size of the Black Seas Barracuda I figured the Clipper could benefit from some backup!) 1st Place: 6285, Black Seas Barracuda. No shock here. In 1989 this went for about $110 and I knew my parents couldn't afford it. I still asked. I've never even seen it fully assembled until I ordered it on Ebay. I got mine for $450 and feel like it was a steal. It's in very clean shape, no cracking on any of the figures arms or torsos, and not missing any pieces I couldn't easily replace from the pile. So the first time I've actually set eyes on this beauty it was a 35 year old toy. It was worth the wait. If I had got any of these two ships as a kid I would have been in awe, but somehow I think I appreciate both even more as an adult. So there are my rankings on the 1989 offerings. I hope you enjoyed reading and maybe my thoughts invoked a little nostalgia in you too. If that's the case I'd love to hear you reply with your thoughts. Later today I will rank the 5 sets from 1991, then after that I'll combine them into a complete first wave ranking!