Lady's paramour, before noon, boarding pilot boat

I believe the answer is:

tramp steamer

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

'boat' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'lady's paramour before noon boarding pilot' is the wordplay.
'lady's paramour' becomes 'tramp' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'before noon' becomes 'am'.
'boarding' indicates putting letters inside.
'pilot' becomes 'steer' (I've seen this before).
'am' put within 'steer' is 'steamer'.
'tramp'+'steamer'='TRAMP-STEAMER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tramp steamer that I've seen before include "Cargo boat with no fixed route" , "Merchant" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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