Old warship, smooth around shore, avoiding North (8)
I believe the answer is:
ironclad
'old warship' is the definition.
'ironclad' can be an answer for 'warship' (19th century armoured warship). I am unsure of the 'old' bit.
'smooth around shore avoiding north' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'smooth' could be 'iron' (to smooth down with an iron) and 'iron' is present in the answer.
'around' could be 'c' (abbreviation for 'circa') and 'c' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'lad' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ironclad that I've seen before include "well-protected" , "Inflexible" , "Old cairn with metal protection" , "Unassailable" , "Well armoured - perhaps an alibi?" .)