Abstract: A mounting block by which a fender can be mounted to a stanchion of a railing of a boat. The mounting block has a horizontal access slot, and two laterally extending upper and lower slots which extend in opposite directions. One end of a rope is attached to the fender and another end of the rope extends through two passageways in the mounting block. The mounting block is mounted to the stanchion by moving an access slot of the block into engagement with, after which the block is rotated 90.degree. so that the stanchion extends vertically through the base sections of the upper and lower slots.