Get out into open sea? It helps to keep net in position (8)
I believe the answer is:
crossbar
'keep net in position' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I can't see?
'get out into open sea? it helps' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'sea?' could be 'ross' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'ross' is found within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for crossbar that I've seen before include "Part of bicycle or goal" , "Horizontal beam on goalposts" , "Helps to define the goal" , "Horizontal part of a goal" , "Post connecting goalposts" .)