I always keep one open portal at my base named "OPEN". I leave the materials for a portal in my longship so when I want to explore or farm things I'll already have that with me. When I find a new place to explore/loot I establish a small beachhead, toss up a portal to the open one back home, and I park my boat a little ways into the water for safety.

If I need to repair my gear/tools, then I'm set. If I die then I have a close portal back to my corpse and the deathsquitos surrounding it. Hope this helps! Happy hunting!