How boat business is able to remain profitable? (7,6)

I believe the answer is:

keeping afloat

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'how boat business is able' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether this works.

'remain profitable?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'remain' could be 'keep' (keeping is a kind of remaining) and 'keep' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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