The Cricket II is the boat that inspired the book and movie JAWS. Author Peter Benchley fished on her off Long Island, NY, caught big sharks, wrote a book, sold it to Hollywood for $10K, and the rest is a rich nautical history which includes record catches, a rescue at sea, innovations of fishing equipment, habitat research and early experiments in underwater photography and  development of the shark cage.

In 2014, the Cricket II was donated by Jon Dodd (Wakefield, RI) to our all-volunteer North Carolina non-profit, the Cricket II Project.  She was fully restored and outfitted to provide free fishing trips for our disabled veterans. Modifications have been made to assure a safe and comfortable adventure for these heroes, including accommodations for wheelchairs. The boat is located on the Morehead City, NC waterfront beside Olympus Dive Center. (713 Shepard St, Morehead City, NC  28557)