In 1996 LEGO released 3 Boats sets. The largest Boats set from 1996 was
4022 C26 Sea Cutter with a piece count of 193 and a retail price of $29.99. The current estimated value of all these Boats sets from this year is about $403.56 which represents a 640.9% growth.
The Boats theme was a LEGO System theme that ran from 1982 to 1996 and consisted of 12 sets. Unlike most town sets, the sets in the Boats, also known as Floating Boats, really did float in water. Initiakky the boats were made from single piece hulls but later sets introduced multi-hulled boats. After 1996 boats became part of the LEGO City theme.
1996 LEGO Sets
In 1996, the LEGO Group continued its legacy of innovation, though it was nearing a challenging period in its history. This year saw the company's ventures into digital media, with the establishment of LEGO Media, marking its initial foray into the world of video games and multimedia. Additionally, the Technic line was rebranded to create a more coherent global brand identity. While traditional brick sets remained popular, the mid-90s marked the beginning of a time when the company recognized the need for diversification and modernization to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving toy market.