To be a sheep I’ll comment on the price as well… However, I can’t really because I don’t remember the exact price, all I remember the set was over A$20 and that was too much for me! So I didn’t buy one when it was released in 1993 because I just couldn’t afford it! Year later however, now that I have more money and this website known as eBay, I’ve managed to score 3 or 4 of these at a good price.

Raft Raiders is obviously to the successor to 6257 Castaway’s Raft and it succeeds quite nicely. It improves on the mast idea by adding a proper sail on a mast complete with rope ladders. Besides the concept of the set being a raft, there are also consistencies with is predecessor such as barells for floatation, 3 mini-figures and a shark.

Unlike its precedessor the pirates in Raft Raiders appear in a better situation as their raft look specially built for the purpose of raiding, while the poor Castaway’s Raft Pirate have thrown a raft together with whatever they can muster. The Raft Raiders also have a treasure chest, where the former only possess a map, however this treasure may have come at a price since the Iron Hook mini-figure is missing an eye and hand, while another pirate is missing a leg. Raiding must be a perilous occupatation!

Overall a solid design with a goodly amount of mini-figures and accessories, something LEGO could have refer upon when designing its latest raft, the horrible 7070 Catapult Raft. So I give it 4 out 5.

Now its your turn! Discuss Raft Raiders in the Pirates forum!