By all means use the foam pipe insulation but cover it with firehose
that has been slit lengtwise. The firehose can be had for free where
they do hydrostatic testing of the hoses. Failed hose is of no use to
them but great for this purpose.

This is exactly how I did my dinghy, I put used pop rivets every 6
inches (with washers on what would be the small end). So far, it has
held up great for 4 years.

Matt
wrote:
William Watt:

Thanks for the offer. I might take you up on it when its 100 degrees
here with 98% humidity in August.

However, I have decided to use vinyl clothesline material for the
wrap.
Am not sure if the garden hose will work but it is cheap. I already
tried using that foamish pipe insulation that comes in 6' lengths and
has a lengthwise slit. It was not abrasion resistant at all.