Seaman in boat a rating (3)
I believe the answer is:
tar
'seaman' is the definition.
(Jack Tar is an informal term for a sailor)
'in boat a rating' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'TAR' is hidden within 'boat a rating'.
(Other definitions for tar that I've seen before include "Sailor and dressing for roads" , "Mariner, old salt" , "Dark flammable liquid" , "Sticky substance - seaman" , "Hearty" .)