Crossword Genius

Ultimately unfriendly deed, pinching hotel vessel (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

yacht

'vessel' is the definition.
(I know that yacht is a type of vessel)

'ultimately unfriendly deed pinching hotel' is the wordplay.
'ultimately' indicates one should take the final letters.
'deed' becomes 'act' (an action).
'pinching' means one lot of letters goes inside another (taking inside).
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
The final letter of 'unfriendly' is 'y'.
'act' placed around 'h' is 'acht'.
'y'+'acht'='YACHT'

(Other definitions for yacht that I've seen before include "Pleasure-boat" , "Type of boat" , "Sailing boat" , "Sailboat" , "Luxury purchase" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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