Boaters in Ransome novel (7)
I believe the answer is:
oarsmen
'boaters' is the definition.
(oarsman is a kind of boater)
'ransome novel' is the wordplay.
'novel' indicates an anagram.
'ransome' is an anagram of 'OARSMEN'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for oarsmen that I've seen before include "Rowing types" , "They propel a boat manually" , "Crew - moaners (anag)" , "Strokes" , "People in boats" .)