The Duffy Boat Project
The Duffy Boat Project is a hands-on community initiative from Like Minds that brings neurodivergent volunteers together to restore a donated 22-foot electric boat. Through this engaging project, participants build real-world skills in teamwork, repair, and creative problem-solving while contributing to something bigger than themselves. Once restored, the boat will be used for educational outings, community engagement, or fundraising efforts—serving as a floating symbol of empowerment, inclusion, and purpose-driven work.
Restoring Hope on the Water: The Duffy Boat Project for Autism Awareness
By Like Minds Alliance
When Karen Butler donated her late husband Fred's beloved 2007 21-foot Duffy electric boat, she wasn’t just parting with a cherished vessel—she was honoring the life and spirit of her granddaughter Hennessy. She was also offering a gift to the broader community: a chance to better understand Autism not as a diagnosis but as a deeply human experience filled with love, challenges, triumphs, and resilience.
The Duffy Boat Project is a joint initiative between the Autism Society of San Diego and Like Minds Alliance. It is part memorial, part awareness campaign, and part inclusive community-building effort. The project centers on the full restoration of Fred Butler’s Duffy boat—a boat once filled with laughter and family memories—and transforms it into a mobile outreach platform. It will be used to raise awareness about Autism, provide a sensory-friendly experience for neurodivergent individuals, and promote hope and healing for families like Hennessy’s.
A Granddaughter’s Journey
Hennessy, now 24, is a profoundly autistic young woman whose life story defies the statistics and clinical language that so often dominate discussions about Autism. "She’s somewhat verbal and potty trained," Karen says with quiet pride. "And people may not understand what a big deal that is, but for us, it’s everything."
Hennessy’s days are shaped by her unique sensory profile. She speaks in a low, melodic voice and communicates her needs and feelings through an emotional connection with her crocheted animals—small handmade toys that her mother and friends commission specially for her. She’s artistic, curious, deeply attached to her family, and yes, often misunderstood by the world around her.
“She has a pile of those animals in her room, stacked maybe six feet high,” Karen laughs. “But she knows where every single one of them is. They’re not just toys. They’re her companions. Her language.”
Hennessy’s mother, Christy, is her primary caregiver—a role she has assumed with deep love and quiet fortitude. Christy’s days are a balancing act of managing Hennessy’s care, advocating for services, and simply surviving in a system that often feels broken. “Everyone calls her a saint,” Karen says. “She has given her entire life to making sure Hennessy is safe and loved.”
And she has done it largely on her own. “It’s heartbreaking. But Christy has never given up.”
A Legacy of Love: Fred’s Boat
The donation of the Duffy boat was also a tribute to Fred Butler, Karen’s late husband and
Hennessy’s grandfather. A lifelong sailor who once captained a 40-foot Caliber, Fred had a deep and abiding love for the sea. “Sailing was Fred’s dream,” Karen recalls. “He wanted to share that world with his family.”
Fred’s connection to the water and his gentle spirit made the Duffy boat—a quiet, electric vessel— an ideal gift to honor both his memory and Hennessy’s future. “Fred would have loved this project,” Karen says. “He would’ve wanted the boat to be in better shape first, but he’d be thrilled to know it’s helping people.”
The Heart Behind the Mission
David Wetherelt, founder of Like Minds Alliance and also does Special Projects for Autism Society San Diego, is leading the project with an intensely personal sense of mission. David, who is himself autistic and a father to a neurodivergent son, understands the complexity of Autism not just through science and advocacy—but through lived experience.
“I was misdiagnosed for decades,” David says. “Depression, OCD, bipolar, borderline. I had no idea I was autistic until just a couple of years ago. Everything made sense after that. And now, I’ve dedicated my life to helping others see it too—before it’s too late.”
David’s journey, which included years of misdiagnosis, addiction, and hospitalization, echoes that of many late-diagnosed autistic individuals. He now speaks, writes, and coaches on the intersections of neurodivergence, mental health, and family dynamics. “There’s a whole hidden population of autistic adults out there,” he says. “And many are suffering unnecessarily because they were never seen.”
The Duffy Boat Project brings those ideas to life—literally. Neurodivergent volunteers, many of them clients or graduates of Like Minds’ peer coaching program, will help repair and restore the boat. The goal is to use the boat for community events, sensory-friendly outings, advocacy tours, and Autism education.
“Water is calming,” David explains. “Profoundly autistic children often gravitate toward it. The Duffy, with its quiet motor and covered deck, is the perfect sensory-safe space. We want to use it to create joy and relief—and maybe even a little magic.”
A Broader Context
The urgency of this project is underscored by the latest numbers released by the CDC in April 2025: About 1 in every 31 children was diagnosed with autism by age 8 in 2022, up from 1 in 36 in 2020, according to the CDC report. Rates varied widely by gender, race and geographic area. While the rise in diagnoses is partly due to better awareness and screening, the journey for families hasn’t gotten easier. In many places, services are inadequate, schools are under-resourced, and parents are left to navigate complex care systems on their own.
Karen’s family knows this struggle intimately. From failed school policies—including a time when Hennessy was locked in a dark room during a meltdown—to being judged for pushing an adultsized stroller through Disneyland, the family has seen it all.
“She’s not lazy,” Karen says. “She’s autistic. The stroller keeps her safe. But people don’t understand that. They judge. That’s why this boat is so important—it opens a conversation.”
A Dedication to Hennessy
The Duffy Boat Project is officially being dedicated in Hennessy’s name. Karen’s daughter Christy was moved to tears when she heard. “She said, ‘If you do something special like that, I’ll find a way to come out to San Diego.’”
The team plans to host a dedication event and create signage and materials that tell Hennessy’s story—with dignity, respect, and joy. “This is for her,” David says. “And for every family like hers. It’s a beacon. A floating message that says, ‘We see you.’”
How You Can Help
The Duffy Boat Project is actively seeking support. From marine equipment donations to financial contributions, volunteers, and in-kind services, this is a true community effort.
Interested in helping?
Contact:
Like Minds Alliance www.likemindsalliance.org
Or reach out directly to: David Wetherelt
(858) 226-0952
The Duffy Boat Project isn’t just about restoring a boat. It’s about restoring understanding. Restoring community. Restoring hope.
Special Thanks to Our Partners
This project would not be possible without the generous support of our community partners. Their time, resources, and belief in our mission are helping to turn this vision into a reality.
Class One Yacht Services
Led by Chris Donathan, Class One has provided expert consultation and support on restoring the Duffy. Their commitment to quality and care mirrors our own commitment to those we serve. www.classoneyachtservices.com
Contact: chris@c1ys.net
Microvision Optical & Parallel Eyewear
Through advocacy and innovation, Microvision Optical and Parallel Eyewear have supported Like Minds in our broader neurodivergence initiatives—from blue light awareness to visual processing health. Special thanks to David Johnson for his ongoing collaboration.
www.microvisionoptical.com www.paralleleyewear.com
Contact: david@microvisionoptical.com
Driscoll Boatworks
Driscoll Boatworks has graciously offered resources and space to support the repair and refitting of the Duffy. As one of San Diego’s most trusted marine services providers, their partnership is a vital part of this project.
www.driscollinc.com Contact: (619) 226-2500