Jaws at 50: Why the Sinking of the Orca Still Haunts Boaters’ Dreams
In case you haven't heard, this summer is the 50th anniversary of the debut of the movie Jaws. There isn't a boat owner alive who doesn't think about the horrifying prospect of that fin coming towards them when swimming in saltwater anywhere in the world - and even more so when boating around Montauk, Block Island and Martha's Vineyard. As I grew up my older sister, Justine, would hum John William's iconic theme whenever we were out for a swim in Long Island Sound near our home.
In film school Jaws was required viewing. I’ve rewatched the movie dozens of times over the years, and each time it only gets better. The tension, the performances, the editing, the famous camera movements, the sound design; it’s all masterful. Anyone who aspires to make movies still studies it to understand how to build suspense.
Writing about it for the 50th anniversary, I’m reminded once again why Jaws still holds up. It was never just about the shark. It was about fear, survival, and one unforgettable boat: the Orca.
Family Waters: Montauk, Chum, and Shark Dreams
I grew up on powerboats - Grady-Whites, Carvers, Bertrams, Regals, and my dad’s Hatteras 55. One summer weekend, my dad took my sister and I to Montauk to hunt for a great white shark. We’d chum the water from a five-gallon bucket, the trail blooming behind us as I gagged on the smell. My sister would laugh and pinch her nose. She was the brave one, and kind enough to hold my hair when I leaned over the side, seasick.
Once I got the nausea out of my system it was smooth sailing for me, and the feeling of being out in the open water having our own adventure always felt exciting. I loved climbing the tuna tower, hoping to catch a glimpse of a fin, and looking out for lobster pots. For better or worse, we never did catch a shark. But that was Ok, the real fun was boating and cruising together as a family.
The Orca: Boat as Character
Jaws wasn’t filmed in a tank, it was shot at sea. Spielberg insisted on real water and the crew used two boats.
Orca I: A converted 42-foot Nova Scotia lobster boat, originally named Warlock.
Orca II: A fiberglass replica, built to sink, tilt, and open up so cameras and crew could get the shots they needed.
Orca Specs:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Length | ~42 ft, Cape Island–style lobster boat hull |
| Engine | Single diesel inboard (~120–150 hp) |
| Speed | Top Speed~9–10 knots |
| Hull Material | Wood (planked over frame) |
| Cabin | Tight, low-ceiling - setting for Quint’s monologue |
| Tower | Custom-built crow’s nest |
15 Wild Facts About the Orca
1. The Real Name of the Orca I Was Warlock – It was originally a lobster boat that production designer Joe Alves found in Massachusetts.
2. Refit to Look Beat-Up – Alves made her look barely seaworthy, like Quint himself.
3. Crow’s Nest Was Custom – Quint’s tower wasn’t standard; it was custom-built to match the script.
4. She Was a Character – Spielberg used the Orca as a confined stage where tension boiled.
5. Quint Was Based on a Real-Life Shark Hunter – Both the book and the movie drew inspiration from the infamous Montauk-based shark hunter and charter captain Frank Mundus, known for his over-the-top, colorful personality.
6. Quint’s Monologue – The haunting “USS Indianapolis” speech (a true story) was shot in the swaying, claustrophobic cabin. Shaw was too drunk the first day, but nailed it the next. This episode wasn't in Benchley's novel but added during production.
7. Radio Smash Was Improvised – Shaw destroyed the radio on instinct. Spielberg kept the take.
8. Orca I Partially Sank During the Shoot – As the main boat took on water mid-scene, Spielberg screamed “Save the film!”
9. Orca I Became Part of the Universal Studios Amity Ride – After briefly being in the possession of a special effects technician, Jaws became the first true blockbuster and Universal bought the Orca back for $130,000. It remained part of the ride for 20 years.
10. The Mysterious Disappearance of the Orca I – Hollywood legend has it that over the next two decades, Spielberg would sneak onto the ship at night while brainstorming his next movie. Suddenly the boat vanished, and no one has ever revealed why.
11. Orca II Was a Fiberglass Replica – Built for trick shots with flotation tanks and a removable side, it was not seaworthy and sank twice while filming. Both times it carried valuable Universal Studio cameras to the bottom.
12. Orca II Lived on a Martha's Vineyard Beach for Decades – Marine mechanic Lynn Murphy, who had worked on the film, bought Orca II for $1 and left it on the beach near his home.
13. Time and Jaws Fans Took Their Toll on Orca II – Left to the elements, the fiberglass prop began to rot. And over the years, fans pulled off pieces as souvenirs. Eventually, what little was left was dismantled.
14. Collectors Want Her Badly – Pieces of Orca II were sold by Murphy. They have virtually disappeared from the collector's market. Orca models by FlyingFish are prized. Even LEGO fans beg for a set.
15. Orca III Lives On – A full replica now tours as part of the 50th anniversary celebration.
Boat Nerd Bonus: Who Built the Real Orca?
The original Orca was likely built by a regional Nova Scotia builder, possibly Atkinson or a similar Cape Island yard. These boats were designed for hauling lobster traps, with long, narrow hulls and small cabins. They weren’t fast, just 9 to10 knots max, but they were stable, with wide beams and strong sheerlines built for working rough Atlantic water.
Orca Returns: Jaws 50th Anniversary on Martha's Vineyard.
No one expected Jaws would immortalize this humble working boat. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jaws, fans gathered in Martha’s Vineyard, where much of the film was shot, for a weekend of screenings, panels, and shark-fueled nostalgia. A surprise appearance by Richard Dreyfuss onstage as the Cape Cod Symphony played John Williams’s iconic two-note shark theme live, perfectly synced with the film’s opening scene. Perhaps the greatest highlight? A faithful replica of the Orca, lovingly dubbed Orca III, was docked and open for tours. The boat drew crowds of superfans, many in Quint hats and Amity PD shirts, reliving their favorite scenes right where it all began.
Every boater worth their salt has seen Jaws. And every swimmer has been scared out of the water by it. This summer, for it's 50th anniversary, let's Celebrate the legacy. Rewatch one of the greatest achievements in cinema history. And while we're at it, raise a glass to the Orca - because some boats never leave you!
Alex Hammond grew up boating on Long Island Sound, and along with her older sister, Justine, spent summers sailing and powering in the Northeast. Justine went to work after getting her master’s degree in writing and was the Jack-of-all-trades at BoatTEST before retiring to raise a family. Alex attended NYU Tisch Film School and graduated from Cal Arts with a degree in film directing. She is a documentary filmmaker, and her videos have been seen on PBS and Netflix. She’s currently the Video Director of BoatTEST and oversees the videos BoatTEST produces.