Met a fisherman from South Africa and he showed me one of his surf rods that had a soft suede grip which was wrapped on the handle as you would with cork tape. The suede was 15 years old and in perfect condition; unaffected by salt water. It wasn't flocked - I know what that is like. Any ideas? The guy didn't know where he got it because it was from a friend.The stuff was the most comfortable grip material I have ever felt!

Could it have been Chamois? I have seen some grips wrapped with it. Problem is being sure to get all the stretch out before adhering to the base material.

I have a grip like that on a custom Purglas surf rod made in South Africa by a Durban based company.
Nice to fish with in the surf, bullet proof grip.

Most my Safrican rods had Ozite as a handle material. Get the 'hair' or pile off of it and i wonder if that is not what you are seeing? Almost zero slip even when hands are slimy from cutting up very messy baits. Lasts forever too.

yes, it was like chamois! I'm trying to find it in lengths for a surf grip = 6' or so.

Unless I'm really off base - I believe chamois is made from sheep or lambskin. Which means one really BIG animal for six continuous feet. Likely you'll have to devise some way to section it or settle for some man-made chamois. For the synthetic you might try Joanne's fabric.

good point!

Check with a golf supply store, they have wraps for putter grips. I have used the leather for flyrods, very comfortable.

Leather golf grips can be turned around and wrapped with the back side out. That might give you the look and feel you want.

If you have access to a Hobby Lobby (there may be other stores also), they have a leather suede like product that you can buy. It comes in about a 1/4" wide strip (may be less) that you could use for wrapping, but I don't remember if you can buy it by the foot or if it comes in only one size

Jerry

We used to use specialist grips for tennis raquets and bicycle handle-they can come in quite an array of textures and colors in leather and synthetics.