Softly paddle in front of boat (4)
I believe the answer is:
prow
'front of boat' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'softly paddle' is the wordplay.
'softly' becomes 'p'.
'paddle' becomes 'row' (I've seen this before).
'p'+'row'='PROW'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for prow that I've seen before include "(Ship's) bow" , "Projecting front part of ship" , "Pointed front part of a vessel" , "Bow of a ship" , "Boat's bow" .)