Lake vessel (5)
I believe the answer is:
canoe
'lake vessel' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for canoe that I've seen before include "Boat (that can be dug out!)" , "Small boat for paddling" , "Light, narrow open boat" , "Narrow paddle boat" , "Boat one paddles" .)