Exterior exposure leather?

[MarineTailor]

I operate a small marine canvas shop and have occasion to use some leather to protect fabrics, especially acrylics from chafe.  Many a boat has a leather wrap on the wheel at the binacle too.  Seems I pick the wrong cut of hide or don;t properly prepare for the rigors of ocean sailing and uv exposure.  Most every job I have done ends up with a dried out course finished bit of leather after only a couple of years.  What am I doing wrong?  Suggestions of a particular hide for this sort of project.  Thanks in advance for your input. 

[Stetson912]

What leather are you using? I found this site that may help. I'm not so familiar with marine applications for leather but oil tanned leather I believe would do the trick. https://shipcanvas.com/collections/leather

[MarineTailor]

Thank you Stetson912, I'll have to check with those folks tomorrow.

 

[Stetson912]

I just looked breifly. I don't know anything about them or what not. You can find  oil tanned hides many places. But it seems they may specialize in a product designed specifically for marine use. Hope you get what you need! 

[MarineTailor]

Thanks for the tip, samples from shipcanvas are on their way.

[Lobo]

Leather is photo-reactive (sensitive to sunlight and ultraviolet). The usual results of exposure begin with darkening in color, then drying noticeably, followed by shrinking and curling, finally becoming hardened and breaking apart. I would not recommend leather for long-term exposure to sunlight or to salty air.

If leather must be used you may extend its useful life in such environments by treating it with neatsfoot oil frequently and by keeping it sealed (as much as possible, given the conditions expected). Treatments such as Fiebings Tan-Kote or Bag-Kote contain acrylic resins that are moderately resistant to moisture infiltration. Such treatment would have to be renewed regularly, and I would not expect a long service life of the leather.