A small fleet of ships or boats (8)
I believe the answer is:
flotilla
This clue is a double definition.
'a small fleet of ships' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'boats' is the second definition.
(I have seen 'many boats' mean 'flotilla' so perhaps 'boats' could also mean 'flotilla')
(Other definitions for flotilla that I've seen before include "A lot of craft" , "Fleet of small vessels" , "number of boats" , "number of small ships" , "Group of small craft" .)