The grip tape on one of my boards has mostly peeled or worn away so it needs replacing. The deck is only 8" wide so my toes always hang off the front - which is I think one of the reasons why the grip tape peeled away.

Think it would be better if I used a 9" or longer piece of griptape to allow the tape to wrap around and under the board (to prevent it from peeling away) or do you think I'll just wear it away at the front and back lip of the deck and create more of a messy problem for myself.

Is it better for the tape to be shorter than the deck is wide all the time or do you think a wrap around on a narrow width deck might keep the tape in place longer?

It should be the same as a skateboard.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080403165206AA...
The link explains how to do it. I think your peeling problem is from not smooting the edges with a screw driver or other metal object.

Griptape is no problem to remove and replace as it wears. I just outlined my shoes, cut that out, placed it where the feet fit, and cut what hung off the edge. I went into a skateshop and asked them if they had any sheets they had cut too short, as I really only needed two 6"x8" pieces, they gave me scrap for free.