Charles T. Low wrote:

Thanks to all for the information. It looks like a matter of meteorology and
geography. I just don't see leather around here (Thousand Islands, St.
Lawrence River), and there is very little in the way of individual boaters
doing any "whipping" of the sort we learned in boating classes, in this
instance used for binding or sewing the chafing gear to a line.

Supplies for traditional bos'n work have gotten either expensive or
hard/time-consuming to get. And if we are honest, 2/3 of it isn't
needed or cost-effective anymore. Old firehose has been popular &
effective as chafing gear for a long time all over the world and is
free. People who use leather are probably the some ones who grille
lobsters. :-)