Considered an attractive vessel with a clipper bow and twin raked smokestacks,[1][2] Bayocean was expensive to operate, was "somewhat cranky" at sea, and spent much of the time tied to a dock.

Following a brief active career, Bayocean was laid up again for about two years, as the Navy demobilized and sought to find buyers for its surplus ships.

[4] On February 25, some construction details relating to the planking of the bow and stern still remained to be worked out, but the hull lines of the vessel were ready to be laid out.

[6] By May 2, 1911, the machinery had been installed on the yacht, and Supple had put a large force of workmen on the job to complete the vessel by the contract deadline of June 1, 1911.

There were a large number of spectators, which according to a report of the event, formed the "largest crowd to view a launching in the history of local maritime affairs.

"[9] The crowd took over every place in the vicinity from which the launch could be seen, including the Supple yard, the roofs of neighboring buildings, and the east approach of the Morrison Bridge.

[9] Besides Tom Richardson, other speakers at the event included Harbormaster Speier, Portland mayor Simon, Judge Van Zant, representing Governor of Oregon Oswald West (1873-1960, David N. Mosessohn (b.1883),[10] president of the Portland Ad Men's club, and T. Irving Potter, vice-president of the yacht's owners, the T.B.

[9] Bayocean had an auxiliary engine to generate electric power for the lighting system, working the pumps for the bilge and fire protection, and supplying air pressure.

[9] Also, Bayocean could not legally transport paying passengers until a certificate was issued by the United States Steamboat Inspection Service.

Local inspectors Fuller and Edwards refused to grant an approval certificate to Bayocean until certain changes, characterized as "minor" in a news report, had been made.

[18] These changes included installing ventilators to the engine room, providing an access route (called a "companionway") forward of the pilot house, and other modifications.

On Monday, June 5, 1911, leading a flotilla of motor boats from the Astoria Motorboat Club in a river parade, Bayocean acted as the "King's Barge" for "Rex Oregonus", the titular head of the Rose Festival.

[21] The plan for operation of the yacht was to leave Portland at night, so that the Columbia River bar could be crossed during the daylight of early morning.

[5] At the yacht's anticipated speed of 18 miles per hour, was about a four-hour sea voyage from the mouth of the Columbia river to the wharf at Bay Ocean.

[22] On Friday, June 30, 1911, when Bayocean was returning from Tillamook, hot bearing in the main engine, attributed to improper work by an oiler, forced it to stop overnight at Rainier, Oregon, only reaching Portland the next morning.

[23] After the summer of 1911, Bayocean was out of service and moored in Tillamook Bay until late May 1912, when the yacht was taken to Portland for an overhaul at the Supple yard where the boat had been launched the year before.

[25] In March 1912, the company, through a newly hired resort manager, was announcing that Bayocean would be available for visitors for "deep sea fishing trips and moonlight excursions" during the summer season.

Potter lent Bayocean to accommodate the women officers of the Multnomah Club who were involved in the Oregon State Swimming Championship.

[30] Instead the task of ferrying was assigned to the much smaller yacht Henrietta (28 feet long, passenger capacity: 30), brought in from the city of Tillamook and operating under Captain Emmett Jenkins.

[32] By comparison, an entire smaller steamboat, the Truant (60 feet long, 33 gross tons), was built not far from Tillamook Bay, in Toledo, Oregon in 1910 for $6,000.

[33] An alternative plan, to run from Astoria to Tillamook was tried, but this did not work out and for some time prior to January 1913, the yacht had been out of service and moored at Bayocean.

[14] In January 1913 it was reported that negotiations for the sale of Bayocean might open soon with a resident of southern California who was considering running a vessel from San Diego to ports in northern Mexico during the summer.

[37] Bayocean departed a few days later, on April 6, 1913, with Captain Rudden in command, J. Oligreen as first officer, and Frank Coulter, chief engineer.

[38] Bayocean arrived in San Francisco on Tuesday, April 8, 1913, at 10:35 pm, having spent 60 hours en route from Tillamook.

After the entry of the United States into World War I in 1917, the US Navy purchased a number of large private yachts, including Bayocean, for use as patrol vessels.

[42] Bayocean was then ordered to San Diego, California to report to Commander, Division 2, Pacific Fleet, for "such duty as may be assigned.

[42] For over a month afterwards, Bayocean operated in the San Diego area, conducting drills, running engineering trials, and carrying mail.

[42] American Vice Consul John R. Gamon boarded Bayocean at Acapulco to begin his return to the United States.

In 1921, Bayocean was offered for sale by auction off by the Navy together with 145 other surplus vessels, including a number of steam and motor yachts which had been taken in for war service.