In recreational boats, multiple drive units, e.g., multiple outboard motors, Z-drives, or jet drives, are often provided to propel the boat, at least one of the drive units having a propulsion reversal function for executing a reverse propulsion. To facilitate execution of a turning maneuver with a boat in an extremely tight space, and to ensure that even an unskilled person is able to reliably execute such a turning maneuver, it is provided that the drive units be activated automatically for executing the turn on the spot as a function of a command for turning. The command may be made via a switch, which is operated by the driver of the boat. One drive unit is then operated automatically in propulsion reversal mode, and the other drive unit is operated in propulsion mode. The power of the drive units is then controlled in such a way that the instantaneous efficiency of the drive units operated during turning is taken into account. The drive units are activated by at least one control unit in such a way that the boat is turned automatically. The driver of the boat here may preferably specify the direction of the turn.