Played about when guided around a vessel (6)
I believe the answer is:
larked
'played' is the definition.
(larking is a kind of playing)
'when guided around a vessel' is the wordplay.
'when guided' becomes 'led' ('lead' can be a synonym of 'guide'. I am not sure about the 'when' bit.).
'around' is an insertion indicator.
'a vessel' becomes 'ark' (ark is a kind of vessel).
'led' going around 'ark' is 'LARKED'.
'about' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for larked that I've seen before include "Played light-heartedly like early bird" , "Played around like early bird" , "Frolicked in birdland" , "Romped like early bird" , "Frolicked about like early bird" .)