Have you pinpointed the "exact" location of the bow-planes in the texture. I had huge probs when doing the "RedFin" I remember. Finally I used the "checker board" trick to exactly locate the area.
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...40&postcount=1
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...22&postcount=4
EDIT: just reread ur post. Seems you have found it, but that the boat uses that area on more parts...my bad.
I guess...one could tweak it in 3D MAX and hex...and simply add a new tex for that bowplane. Not something i am yet capable of doing but can be done 100%