In a long time ago, people needed boats to travel and transport goods over water. But they didn't have motors or engines like we have today. Instead, they used sails and oars to move their boats. However, they also needed a way to control the direction and speed of their boats, especially when the wind or currents were strong.
So they came up with something called "maritime hydraulics," which is basically using water to help steer and control the boat. They built things called "rudders" which are like little flaps that stick out from the back of the boat. When the rudder moves in the water, it helps change the direction of the boat.
They also used something called a "leeboard," which is like a flat board that sticks out from the side of the boat. This helps to keep the boat from being pushed to the side by the wind, and also helps control the boat's speed.
Back then, they didn't have modern technology like we do today, so they had to rely on creative solutions and trial and error to figure out how to make their boats work better. And even though their methods might seem simple compared to what we have today, they were still pretty effective and helped people travel and trade across great distances.