Would work for some instances, but not all.

I can see that in many tying-up instances---there goes the gelcoat...

I think it's a great idea in areas where I'm climbing over the side or sliding into the water. I prefer to keep my swimsuit on me and not hanging from the cleat.

My biggest problem with recessed cleats as shown, there is still a protruding area for snagging a line, fishing line, etc. They do not stick out as much, but are still there.

I think it is a feature that is a cheaper way to go for both the boat builder and the boat buyer.

Cheaper than recessed cleats? Might be true, but I can't see by much. It is a nice design, kind of makes people think the builder went out of thier way to "do it right".

It seems to me that they have taken something that is not great to look at and drawn attention to it by recessing the gelcoat all around it. The improvement in line or bathing suit snags is hardly worth going to that much "design" trouble IMHO.
I like the look of recessed cleats, but never used them before.

Looks like a lot of extra corners and angles to develop stress cracks to me.

With (obviously) all that room under the deck, they could have easily installed flush mount cleats.

I wasn't much of a fan of them until my Scout came equipped with them. They worked out fine for everyday use.

But then again, I didn't have to rely on them to keep my boat tied up to a dock during a storm. Which was one of my original concerns.

To my newbie eye, that recess seems like an inelegant and partial solution to a problem that already has a better solution.

OK for the bow, but I wouldn't want that setup on the stern.

Could not easily crossover the lines with it.

Suppose its $100 cheaper per each boat?

With the whole cleat recessed like that, it may be out of my eye sight from the helm..... How will I realize I left my bumpers deployed in the middle of the lake????


seriously, I don't like it for many of the same reasons already listed.

Oh well.

Same feelings here.