"Doug Kanter" wrote in message news:xIJWc.2232
I always vote for cleats on docks because there are days when you're trying
to get a line around SOMETHING as you dock, but the wind is not cooperating,
nobody's there to help and you only have one hand free. Try that with a
ring. If it were me, I'd teach the kids how to look out for the cleats.
Besides, nobody's every died from a stubbed toe.

But, if you insist, you could recess normal cleats.

Newer Triton bass boats have recessed cleats, kind of what you are
getting at here. the hull about the cleat has a recessed area that the
cleat sits in, and the top of the cleat is at the same elevation as
the top of the gunwale. The outside then has a notch in it about 2
1/2" in width