OCEANSIDE -- They've been lost at sea for nearly two months. But investigators could now be one step closer to learning what happened to Josh Hartman and Ana Martin.

The couple took their boat, "The Pelican," out for a fishing trip seven weeks ago. They left from Oceanside and the empty boat washed ashore near Rosarito, one day later.

The Mexican navy conducted its investigation and recently returned the boat to Hartman's family.

10news reporter Jacqui Nguyen spoke with the family Tuesday and said it's been an agonizing seven weeks for them. However, they said that with the boat back home it can provide some important answers to the mysterious disappearance of Josh and Ana.

Josh's mother, Marsha, said, "We haven't given up hope yet."

But it's a bittersweet homecoming for the 32-foot commercial fishing boat.

"It was hard because we knew Josh wasn't there," she said.

The vessel is somewhat damaged and in disarray; barely functioning on one engine but her owner, Paul Hartman, feels a sense of relief she's in U.S. waters.

Now the real work begins, searching for answers onboard the boat to the mysterious disappearance of Josh and Ana.

"No one can physically tell us what happened or this is where they are," Josh's brother, Paul, said.

Perhaps the answers will be in the GPS and chart plotter.

"It will give us a timeline when -- at what point -- something could have happened," Paul said. "We can find out where exactly the boat was at, that day."

However, closing that chapter means accepting reality -- Josh and Ana are gone.

"You have your ups and downs," Marsha said. "It's very emotional. There might be news one day."

Mexican authorities say they'll continue to keep the case open. They believe the couple may have been kidnapped.

Meanwhile, family members say the U.S. Coast Guard is calling this case "an accident at sea." Their investigation is almost finished.