Originally posted by kelsobluebane:

Another strategy is to explore the coastline and find a small island that's not to near to shore and use a raft to set up a base on it, making sure the entire island is covered by work benches.

This is what I do now after many hours and several playthroughs with different groups. Locate a decent sized island off the coast (usually off the black forest biome as once we start mining copper/bronze we're ready to set up a permanent base). Little raised earth around the perimeter, natural moat from the waters around the island, and the last base had a stream running through it. The only raid that reached it was the bats, everything else never got close enough to be a concern. Even trolls, who could walk right through the water and up to the base but can't get through because of the raised half/wall around the edge of the island. No structures too close to the wall. Quite safe. Just have to keep the bats from killing the chickens.