Procedures to mend exterior of small royal boats? (4,6)
I believe the answer is:
skin grafts
'procedures' is the definition.
(I have seen 'restorative procedures' mean 'skin grafts' so perhaps 'procedures' could also mean 'skin grafts')
'small royal boats?' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'royal' becomes 'king' (a king is royal).
'boats?' becomes 'rafts' (I have seen 'Flat boats ' mean 'rafts' so perhaps 'boats' could also mean 'rafts').
's'+'king'+'rafts'='SKIN GRAFTS'
'to mend exterior of' is the link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for skin grafts that I've seen before include "restorative procedures" , "Superficial repairs" .)