Shy cat put out by boats (6)
I believe the answer is:
yachts
'boats' is the definition.
(yachting is a kind of boating)
'shy cat put out' is the wordplay.
'put out' indicates anagramming the letters.
'shy'+'cat'='shycat'
'shycat' anagrammed gives 'YACHTS'.
'by' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for yachts that I've seen before include "Pleasure craft" , "Light sailing-vessels" , "Sailing vessels" , "Pleasure crafts" , "Vessels for cruises?" .)