The in basket: While sitting in a car on the car deck of the ferry Spokane July 3, I looked up and saw the odd repair shown in the accompanying photo. It looked like the repair was made with cardboard and duct tape. I asked what I was seeing.

The out basket: Hadley Rodero, a consultant with Washington State Ferries, replied, “The patches you saw are a primer coat that was put in place after a welding repair. The tan is the primer and the blue is painters tape.

“Due to time constraints, the finish coat of paint couldn’t be applied before the Spokane was pulled back into service. The finish coat will be applied next time the ferry goes to Eagle Harbor for other work.”