Family members are urging crews to keep scouring the waters off the coast of Baja, California past 2 a.m. Thursday, when the search window closes -- 96 hours after the boat capsized.
"There is evidence from previous ship wrecks that individuals can survive past the 96 hours," California state Sen. Leland Yee said at a news conference Wednesday night.
One American was killed when the boat with more than 40 people aboard capsized early Sunday in the Sea of Cortez, near Isla San Luis, Mexico, authorities said.
So far, 19 American passengers have been rescued and all 16 crew members survived, authorities have said.
The group was on a fishing expedition when the boat capsized.
Favorable weather conditions have increased the likelihood of their survival, according to Frederick Han, whose father-in-law, Donald Lee, 52, is among the missing.
"If we know there are still people out there who are going to make the effort to search for them, then we maintain the hope that they're going to be found," Han said.
U.S. and Mexican officials are part of the search, as the boat was carrying citizens of both nations.
Han said relatives have urged U.S. authorities to play a greater role, and have been getting the word out about the situation online at findourfathers.blogspot.com.
Family members also launched a Facebook page "Find Our Fathers" and a PayPal account for donations to help with the search rescue efforts.
U.S. authorities identified the American tourist who died as Leslie Yee.
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