Terrible crash! Swim for sailor’s craft (9)
I believe the answer is:
scrimshaw
'sailor's craft' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'terrible crash swim' is the wordplay.
'terrible' indicates anagramming the letters.
'crash'+'swim'='crashswim'
'crashswim' is an anagram of 'SCRIMSHAW'.
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for scrimshaw that I've seen before include "Carving on whalebone or walrus tusk" , "Carved work" , "handiwork" .)