A stepladder designed to get me on board boat (6,7)
I believe the answer is:
paddle steamer
'board boat' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'a stepladder designed to get me' is the wordplay.
'designed' indicates anagramming the letters (designed with the letters).
'to get' is an insertion indicator.
'a'+'stepladder'='astepladder'
'astepladder' is an anagram of 'paddlestear'.
'paddlestear' going around 'me' is 'PADDLE-STEAMER'.
'on' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for paddle steamer that I've seen before include "Type of ship" , "vessel" , "Mississippi boat?" , "River boat, for example" , "Ship propelled by bladed wheels" .)