Wyliecat constructed the Derek M. Baylis to the U.S. Coast Guard's stringent safety and construction specifications for passenger vessels. The Derek M. Baylis is USCG Subchapter-T certified. There are sleeping quarters for 12 passengers and 2 crew in three staterooms and two common areas. The Derek M. Baylis's hull, deck, wheelhouse and bulkheads are Baltek endgrain balsa-core combined in a fiberglass/carbon fiber reinforced "sandwich," the strongest and most environmentally friendly materials and construction method available today. A 100 horsepower diesel engine provides enough auxiliary power to reach 12 knots. The range under power alone is 1500 nautical miles. This speed and range is greater than most motor-only research vessels of this size and assures that schedules can be followed. In short, the Baylis powers at 10 Knots on 2 GPH.