There is only one way that it might be helpful to compare a pre-historic voyage of over 1,500 miles across the open ocean with our challenge of landing a human on Mars. Both stretch the limits of existing technology and involve great risk to those brave enough to make the attempt. The pre-historic sailor needed so much more than a vessel which could float. He had to have some type of sail and the skill to use it. He needed to navigate far from land without anything aside from his talent of reading the winds and current to guide him. He needed to know how to provision himself for a voyage of uncertain length. Finally, he needed to know how to profit from the voyage; otherwise, there would be no reason to take the many risks involved.
Boats may have been in use for 1,000 years before they attempted that trip.