These are all good recommendations from folks that have lost their boats and learned the hard way.
I only build Karves. They take less material, easier to drive, better for rivers-my favorite. I bring a pick axe always and chop a little boat ramp so it doesn’t float away. I build a little fence around it, like 60 wood, this works for me. And yea always have a pre portal built and portal mats ready when you get somewhere

If there’s a little island or peninsula you can cut off that’s a good place to park