Hey John, Great looking boat! I've seen what your talking about on a few other chris crafts (not lancers) I always thought it was the fiberglass matting coming through do to thin gel coat? If your worried about that area Ole Steve West could match that with some Imron and spray it with no problem!! You should see what he did on my bro's boat that guys awsome! Hope you buy it! what type of power? is that a straight inboard or an I/O? Hey can you get up under the bow with a strong flash light and light up the area where the pattern is? maybe that will show something up ay??