I have a fascination for maritime culture and history. The wooden boats of the Netherlands are both beautiful and functional (but I wouldn't want to be the one to have to sand and varnish all that gorgeous wood... )

The Netherlands is laced with navigable canals and rivers. Note the sideboards, present on nearly every traditional vessel in this part of the world. Hinged bowsprits on sailboats were also common, to take up less space when docking in canals. Hinged masts allow for "easy" lowering to fit under old stone bridges.