There's no doubt the recessed cleats are a pain if the rope is too thick. I carry my own lines so it doesn't bother me. Maybe popups would be a good idea, I don't know. With regards to the push pin type bumper cleat. I have one just forward of the rear cleat on the outside of the gunwhale, about where the backseat ends and the sunpad starts. The other one is about the throttle area on the outside. I use some 1/4 line for my bumpers. The line hangs over and no chafing. Pepe installed them and put them in the right spot.

I have these clips that I use on my dock lines. This year I'll buy a few more to travel with. I use these on my bow and stern eyes. I don't want to use them on the cleats because it will rub off the powder coating.
I just put a line on the spring cleat.
I tied my fenders onto my grab rails, bow rail, or rail around engine hatch pad.

Check out the picture... The clips I have are on the right side.
Top knot will splice them on a line for you. These are top quality.
http://www.mooringlines.com/images/clips.jpg

old thread, issue still there, what's being used on the newer rides like Morgan's? Any other newer ideas out there?

What about the pins?
MM has them on his apache.
its a recessed hole mounted in the boat.
Then the male pin is spliced on the line.

oops, just reread this thread...
do what ron has.
I'm sure MM could answer more questions about this.
MM = elindio.

Ron, can you post a pic and comment if you're happy with the location or if you'd tweak it for some reason.

Here is a good link on this item.
http://www.rexmar.com/page32.html

Storm:

You're the man!! No sense in taking pics of the pins unless you'd like to see where they are mounted. Let me know. Just a click of the digital.

pin cleats are great. i have them on my 36,bumpers are always perfect.

I installed the mushroom style spring loaded ones on my boat aft of my intake ducts. They work great for fenders!! I'm going to install 2 more up front just before the windscreen. I don't think they will hurt resale, they are almost not noticable and they do function great!!

Attached is a SS, but mine are white. Until I pull them up people don't even notice them. The pin style are nice too, but then you have that metal piece on the end of a line just waiting to take a chunk of gel out!!

I've got the same mushroom cleats for fenders on the back corners of my boat also. I was going to put them midship also, but can't get to back side to reinstall the spring and clip after screwing in the base.