Friday Funny 09/30 (Naming Denali Rose)

(oops)

We tried to think of a different name for Denali Rose, but we never came up with anything we liked better than her current one. The previous owners, had named her after the tallest mountain in North America, Denali, and their previous boat had Rose in it, so they followed the theme. We love to be in Denali Park, it is one of our favorite places, truly beautiful, so we were definitely good with that. The rose part reminds me of two different meanings.

1. A compass rose is an essential part of navigation, and our talented friend designed our logo with that in mind. 

This is a modern chart compass rose.

Our logo is more of a "vintage" compass rose.

2. Rose is of course a flower, and most people would think of the typical hothouse variety. I however, love the rose we have in Alaska, known as the Sitka Rose. Outside of Alaska, it is known as the Rugosa rose. (little trivia fact)

This is the Pioneer Home in Sitka AK, with the Sitka rose bush. :-)

I have had one person ask me, "Are you the Denali Rose?" I really dislike that, I don't know why, I just do. I want to put a compass rose on the stern with the name, so no one feels compelled to ask me that dumb question.

There is a map of Alaska to the right of Rose, you can barely see it.

We are changing the home port to Wrangell, Alaska, instead of Fairbanks. We do have the decal, but haven't had a chance to do the switch yet. It's important to do, since she is federally documented with the Coast Guard, as Wrangell, Alaska, and we need the paperwork to match.

One more consideration with changing the name on a boat, the gods of the wind and sea have to approve of it. There are all kinds of superstitions about a name change, many feel it is bad luck, and that you should never change a name. Others ascribe to elaborate ceremonies to appease the gods, and make sure they know the vessel by the new name. They involve destroying anything with the old name, and having a party with champagne, speaking to the Four Winds, and making sure that everyone gets their share of the alcohol. If you are curious, there are many documented procedures, and youtube videos online. Owners probably use it as an excuse to have a dock party, as well as making sure they have good luck.  

If we were going to change the name, I would absolutely have a ceremony, Bill, on the other hand, just scoffs. 

In the end, it's a big hassle to do the paperwork, scrape off the old name, buff, paint, and reapply a new name, (not to mention a ceremony). We really liked her name anyway, so it stayed, and I will have to find some other excuse to have a party with champagne.