Like all s, Cap Breton has a displacement of 20ST, a total length of 47feet and a beam of .[2] Constructed from marine-grade aluminium, it has a draught of 4feet. It contains two computer-operated Detroit DDEC-III 6V-92TA diesel engines providing a combined 870shp. It has two NaNinches four-blade propellers, and its complement is four crew members and five passengers.[2]
The lifeboat has a maximum speed of 25kn and a cruising speed of . Cape-class lifeboats have fuel capacities of 400USgal and ranges of 200nmi when cruising.[2] Cap Breton is capable of operating at wind speeds of and wave heights of . It can tow ships with displacements of up to 150t and can withstand 60kn winds and 20feet-high breaking waves.[2]
Communication options include Raytheon 152 HF-SSB and Motorola Spectra 9000 VHF50W radios, and a Raytheon RAY 430 loudhailer system.[2] The boat also supports the Simrad TD-L1550 VHF-FM radio direction finder. Raytheon provides a number of other electronic systems for the lifeboat, including the RAYCHART 620, the ST 30 heading indicator and ST 50 depth indicator, the NAV 398 global positioning system, a RAYPILOT 650 autopilot system, and either the R41X AN or SPS-69 radar systems.[2]