Boats deteriorate - time brings deliberate destruction (8)
I believe the answer is:
sabotage
'deliberate destruction' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'boats deteriorate time' is the wordplay.
'deteriorate' is an anagram indicator (I've seen this in other clues).
'time' becomes 'age' (an age is a period of time).
'boats' with letters rearranged gives 'sabot'.
'sabot'+'age'='SABOTAGE'
'brings' is the link.
(Other definitions for sabotage that I've seen before include "Subvert" , "Got a base (anag.)" , "spoil things" , "Scupper" , "Treachery!" .)