Scan isles now and then, to find parts of boat (5)
I believe the answer is:
sails
'parts of boat' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'scan isles now and then' is the wordplay.
'now and then' means one should take alternating letters (letters taken on a regular basis, now and then).
'scan'+'isles'='scanisles'
The alternating letters of 'scanisles' are 'SAILS'.
'to find' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sails that I've seen before include "Navigates" , "Goes by sea" , "Ship's canvas" .)