The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word PUNTER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
P
U
N
T
E
R
More clues leading to the result PUNTER
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Boatman could be one/better" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case boatman could be one/better = punter.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PUNTER mean?
PUNTER noun- One who bets (punts) against the bank.
- One who oars or poles a punt (pontoon).
- One who punts a football.
- One who gambles. See speculator.
- A customer of a commercial establishment, frequently of a pub or (alternatively) of a prostitute.
- A beginner or unskilled climber.
- The person who keeps score in basset or ombre.
- A program used to forcibly disconnect another user from a network.