I'm working on replacing some cork grips off of trolling rods. The cork got messed up by the rod holders and the owner is looking to go with EVA or something stronger than cork. Since I don't want to replace the rods I'll have to work from the bottom up. Naturally there will be problems with the taper of the rod blank and getting a firm grip with the foam. Does anybody have any suggestions here? How about the shrink tubing or is that made to go over the cork? Looking for ideas. Thanks!

Slick butt nylon handle is the strongest for rod holders. If it is just the butt that you have to replace you can sand the old cork down on a lath to the size of the slick butt and use it as an arbor and slid the slick butt over it.

Bill - willierods.com

Chris,
I woudl not worry about the fore grip.
Just use a pair of pliars to chew off the butt section of cork grips.
Then, use masking tape to build up the butt section so that it is uniform. Leave 1/8th inch spaces between the rows of 3/4 inch masking tape. Make the diameter of the butt - uniform from the butt of the rod to the reel seat.
Then, just take an eva handle that is sized to fit the butt of the rod, coat with 5 minute epoxy and slip the grip on the handle.
Clean up the excess epoxy while still wet with Alcohol and you will be set.
Glue on a hard butt cap to prevent butt end damage and you will be ready to troll.

If you are into heavy duty trolling, as Bill said - use a slick butt for good long term use.

Another option is to go to a hardware store and pick up an appropriately sized piece of black plastic hose. Cut off a section of hose that is longer than the length of the required butt handle section. Then, place the hose in an oven for a bit at low heat to soften the plastic- have a dowel or broom stick of an appropriate size available after heating the hose, so that you can slip the hose onto the dowl or broom stick to cool. Then, the hose will cool off - straight with no bends. Then, use the hard black plastic hose for a trolling rod handle. Total cost of the hose will be about 10 cents. Put on a butt cap to finish it off and you will be good to go.

I made a couple of for lack of better terms tapered adapters that slide into the butt of the rod that are about 12" long then I just slide the grip up the taper with plenty of glue as a lubricant. the largest od is just a bit larger than the butt diameter to allow for easier installation. The adapters are just tape wound up a cut up blank .wrap up then move up a little, and wrap up some more progressely getting larger and larger. I then coat it with glue, smooth it out and let it dry. If you have a lathe, you could turn a dowell and coat it and do the same thing, but at the time I did not have a lathe.

Ron Weber