Ultimately, the evaluation demonstrated that she showed promise in both anti-smuggling operations and as a rapid response search and rescue vessel. But machinery breakdowns, a lack of spare parts for her Rolls-Royce turbine, and a collision with a gray whale off the Point Loma Lighthouse that caused $250,000 in damage to her aft strut gearing assembly (and killed the whale) soured the Coast Guard's hopes for her use.
The evaluation ultimately concluded that she demonstrated potential in both combating smuggling and providing rapid response search and rescue services. Nevertheless, mechanical issues, a shortage of replacement parts for her Rolls-Royce turbine, and an accident involving a gray whale off the Point Loma Lighthouse, which caused $250,000 in damage to her aft strut gearing assembly and killed the whale, diminished the Coast Guard's confidence in utilizing her.