LEGO Reviews Friends41317

Sunshine Catamaran

Name: LEGO Sunshine Catamaran 41317
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 41317
Rating: 4.8 (505 reviews)

85 · HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDINVESTMENT GRADE: AA2017603 pcsHigh agreement · 100%

Expert reviews

2analyzed

Owner ratings

505

Consensus

BUY

BrickScore

Highly Recommended

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"A BrickScore of 85 and 100 percent owner recommendation rate on LEGO.com confirm that the Sunshine Catamaran is one of the strongest Friends playsets of its wave, packing a genuinely spacious and accessible interior into a well-designed catamaran hull that impressed both expert reviewers and families."

The 41317 Sunshine Catamaran earns a BrickScore of 85 and a Highly Recommended tier, with JANG and Brickset both scoring it at 85 and praising it as one of the most playable Friends sets of its era. Owner ratings mirror the expert enthusiasm: 4.8 out of 5 across 505 ratings on Amazon, with 100 percent of LEGO.com buyers saying they would recommend it. Critics and owners are in strong alignment that this set exceeds expectations on interior space, accessories, and overall play value.

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LOVED (9)

01Spacious, accessible interior with multiple cabin areas including two sleeping areas, bathroom, kitchenette, vanity, and a breakfast bar
02Easily removable upper deck for interior access, not locked down by studs
03Extensive exterior deck space providing room for minidolls to be posed or play
04Well-designed auxiliary builds: jet ski and banana boat with dedicated storage on the catamaran
05Large, attractive sail with wave pattern and flower decoration, visible from both sides
06Transparent pieces used throughout for visual lightness and appeal
07Rich accessory selection including food items, life preservers, and dolphins
08Sliding door design praised as a clever detail
09Hull registration number HLC-41317 noted as a clever nod to the set number

CRITICIZED (8)

01Does not float on real water, which some owners expected
02Lower hull portion does not leave enough room for minidolls to stand when the upper section is attached
03Windshield in front of the seat feels stylistically mismatched
04Instruction book shipped without cardboard protection, leaving sticker sheet and sail vulnerable to damage
05Sticker use is heavy and described as mostly gratuitous by Brickset
06Price is on the higher side for the piece count at $69.99 for 603 pieces ($0.116 per piece)
07Two included dolphins are identical in color and print, whereas earlier LEGO sets included differently colored dolphins
08Minisunglasses cannot be properly positioned over minidoll eyes due to peg hole design

What reviewers are saying

"I think this is an excellent playset with lots of details and opportunities for a child to create their own stories."

Brickset Reviews

"This set is much nicer, much better than I ever expected it could be."

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Ecosystem

41015 Dolphin Cruiser — The Sunshine Catamaran goes above and beyond the Dolphin Cruiser with a much less conventional structure and even more fun details like the sail, glass bottom, pool, banana boat, breakfast bar, and sliding glass door. It has slightly fewer pieces and less weight than the Dolphin Cruiser, but offers an equal or greater value. It even has a much less obtrusive place to stow the jet ski. However, the Dolphin Cruiser had dolphins in two different colours, which was a subtle touch not replicated here (both dolphins are the same blue). Some reviewers still prefer the Dolphin Cruiser's proportions and use of space.

Previous large cruise ship set — This catamaran provides more playability than the previous large cruise ship set that was a similar overall size, though with very different construction

FriendsTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 2

Avg score

Consensus

BUY

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

BUY

"I think this is an excellent playset with lots of details and opportunities for a child to create their own stories."

Key Pros

✓Excellent playset with lots of details and opportunities for play
✓Maximized play value with no wasted space
✓Removable top decks for great accessibility

Key Cons

✕Not enough room for minidolls to stand in the lower hull portion when the upper part of the boat is attached
✕Windshield in front of seat seems unnecessary for the style of boat

READ FULL REVIEW

JANG's LEGO Reviews

Expert Video Source

BUY

"This set is much nicer, much better than I ever expected it could be."

Key Pros

✓Surprisingly spacious interior with multiple cabin areas
✓Easy-to-remove upper deck design for interior access
✓Plenty of exterior deck space for minidolls to move around

Key Cons

✕Does not actually float on real water
✕Minisunglasses cannot be positioned over minidoll eyes due to mini peg hole design limitations

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Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

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Minifigures & Standout Parts

In this set (6)

Liam

Stephanie

Olivia

Friends Stephanie - Medium Azure Wrap Skirt, Dark Purple Top with Stars, Life Jacket, Sunglasses

Friends Olivia (Light Nougat) - Dark Pink Shorts, Dark Pink and White Swimsuit Top, Life Jacket, Sunglasses

Friends Liam - Sand Blue Long Shorts, Lime and Yellow T-Shirt, Life Jacket

Standout parts (per reviewers)

4x6 inverted roof file
Makes its first appearance in this set, key to the construction of the boat's two hulls, in bright reddish violet.
6x10x4 inverted roof with double bow
Makes its first appearance in this set, key to the construction of the boat's two hulls, in bright reddish violet.
Right and left 2x6 shell with bow
Make their first appearance in this set, key to the construction of the boat's two hulls, in bright reddish violet.
Bright yellow stairs
New to this set; part of the main model design.
Lattice work for the front of the catamaran
New to this set.
1x6 flat tile in medium azur
New pieces in medium azur color.

What Owners Say · summarized from 7 written reviews (LEGO, Amazon, Walmart)

Owners consistently praise the Sunshine Catamaran as a sturdy, well-designed set that delivers excellent play value, engaging building experience, and impressive features that improve upon earlier boat models.

COMMON PRAISE

+Sturdy modular design holds up well to repeated play and reconfiguration
+See-through windows and floors, sliding doors, and engaging accessories like jet ski and tube slide
+Multiple separate play areas and lounging spaces accommodate multiple minifigures
+Accessible for independent building by kids aged 7-11, strong bonding experience for multi-generational builds

COMMON COMPLAINTS

Family-friendly buildingDurable modular designImaginative play featuresMulti-generational appealSuperior to previous boat models

Buyer Ratings

Amazon4.8

497 reviews

88%