Local vessel managed single-handedly? (7)
I believe the answer is:
tankard
'local' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'vessel managed single-handedly?' is the wordplay.
'vessel' becomes 'tank' (tank is a kind of vessel).
'managed single-handedly?' becomes 'ard' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'tank'+'ard'='TANKARD'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tankard that I've seen before include "Drinker's pot" , "Drank at (anag)" , "Vessel tracked" , "Drinking vessel with a handle" , "One-handled drinking mug" .)