Ha ha ha...   No sealing fate allowed.....   I put my rose on the foredeck, just ahead of the combing so that I could see it & enjoy it.  No tradition to thwart, but placing it aft would open yourself up to the obvious "...how can you "read" the compass from there?..."  comments.  Two other consideration points I had;  One, I have a Sapale deck and did not want to cover up any great grain patterns and, two; I wanted the rose to not be covered by the deck rigging.   

 I applied it before 'glassing and used plastic electric tape to hold it while drying.  Worked out very well, two bow dolphin and two compass roses later, still looking great....   ~BRUCE~

Bruce,

Thanks for the reply...I opted to take your advice and locate it on the foredeck...it'll look good there, I'm sure, and won't be in the way of any rigging.

Why upset the water gods if you don't have to  :)

Thanks Much,

Paul

Putting it on the back deck might start some great conversations. 

Tell them you always paddle backward because it's more exciting if you do not know what is ahead.

Tell them you read it by ESP and its closer to your head there than in front of the cockpit.

Tell them your brother pulled a trick on you and mounted the cockpit backward one night.

I'm sure others can come up with even better reasons.