hoveler

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun On some parts of the coast of England, one of a class of persons employed as non-certificated pilots, as wreckers, in landing passengers from ships by means of boats, etc.: probably so called from their use of hovels on shore for shelter.
• noun Hence An English coasting-vessel used for all sorts of work.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

• noun Prov. Eng. One who assists in saving life and property from a wreck; a coast boatman.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• noun Alternative form of hoveller.