The boat is planked

J.G. writes his mother, who is travelling in Europe, that "the exams are not going well." He also mentions that his boat, to be named the Veritas, is "all planked and ought to be in the water in a few days." He also notes that the boat's designer, William Picard Stephens, charged $75 for the boat's design, "which was not included in the price of the boat."