omg haha when i first started playing this game the boat gave me extreme anxiety knowing if i get attacked on this this its over, i would even plan my boating trips to only bringing a small ration of food, bow and arrows and portal, no gear or until i made a back up troll armor set never bringing my top gear in case of death, once i was sailing to close to land and a troll came at me it was the most anxiety iv ever had in a game haha, then once at night a serpent came at me i sailed to the closest land in the direction the wind took me, made it with once hit left to the boat jumped out and killed it with arrows getting a trophy and a sense of calm came over me.

now i just sail at night full top gear, draugr bow needle arrows and kill the serpent with 6-8 shots no more anxiety or F#(k$ given, only issue i have now with boat is forgetting to bring a portal when going to new lands.

only tip i can give is if you get attacked by serpent is always bring the best arrows you can make, keep the boat moving by letting is sail by itself disengage the paddle start shooting before it attacks you try to get some hits in once you hear it roar, and bring it down quick, then go back for the meat. if you sailing against the wind turn the boat with the wind set the sail at max speed disengage and let it self sail while you rain it with arrows. GL i'v killed 2 serpents chasing me one night with this method not a single hit did they land. after this i knew night sailing is now fun.