YOur local hobby shop will know everything about them. It's very much like an RC truck (or plane).
I'm guessing what you want to know is how to control the boat via a computer?
Basically the thing that drives the motor is an electronic speed controller that is meant to receive PWM pulses from a radio receiver. You just have to replace the radio receiver with a computer of some sorts to also output the same PWM pulses that the radio receiver would in order to control the motor driver (and hence the motor). From here the computer can do whatever other autnomous functions you need it to do.
Alternatively, you could also replace the motor driver altogether- probably not the best idea if it's a brushless motor since those controllers are harder to build, find, and are more expensive if they weren't made for RC.