Coelan has gained a reputation as a wonderstuff - like varnish only more durable and more protective.

Susan Smillie gives a step-by-step report on how she applied it to her 70-year-old teak decks.

The key to a successful application is in the preparation - applying the product is the easiest part of the job.

Apart from protecting the boat, the most important thing to get right is timing: remember that the decks will need drying and curing time for two coats of primer and five topcoats -and can't be walked upon for large chunks of time.