Dale from Mineral Wells, Texas, doesn’t do things small. Since 1987, he’s been welding a 62-foot steel boat in his front yard — four staterooms, big dreams, the whole package. His goal has never wavered: sail it to Alaska. Nearly forty years and one very long project later, the boat is about 75% complete.
But there’s a literal bump in the road. A steep hill separates the boat from the water, and getting it down requires heavy machinery to the tune of roughly $50,000. At 86, Dale can’t finish it alone.
That’s where three English visitors named Laurence Benson, Benjie, and Will come in. After hearing Dale’s story, Benson launched a GoFundMe with his friends — and more than 1,500 donors responded within days, pushing the campaign past $41,000 toward its $45,000 goal. Benson is now working with Dale’s family to see the dream through.“The second he started talking about the boat, you could see it. He’s as passionate now as he was 40 years ago,”he said.
What’s the most ambitious project you’ve ever taken on, and would you finish it after four decades? Tell us on our socials.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.