Vessel that inspired Jaws is gonna need a bigger repair after 'boat accident'

Boats and Jaws don't mix, just look at Ben Gardner's boat (it's all beat up) and Quint's the Orca, but now the now the boat that helped inspire Jaws author Peter Benchley to write his best-selling shark book has been in the wars.

To use Matt Hooper speak, the Cricket II had an accident which means that for now its pulpit has been removed, which would at least suit Chief Brody.

Unfortunately it also took part of the bow deck with it, but the good news is that it has been under repair and is back being used by veterans for fishing, and no doubt they are having a wonderful time.

Peter Benchley fished for sharks aboard the boat in the late 1960s, out of Montauk, New York. It's captain and owner for over 50 years was Frank Mundus, who according to many was the inspiration in part for Quint.

Like Quint, he may have started out as a shark hunter but later became more Hooper, becoming a shark conservationist, giving new meaning to Hooper drives the boat, Chief.

But what did Mundus, who died in 2008, think of Jaws? According to his website, he said: "It was the funniest and stupidest movie I've ever seen because too many stupid things happen in it."

Words by Dean Newman

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