[6] The design was for four Winton Engine Corporation four cylinder diesel engines each direct connected to 75 kilowatt, 125 volt General Electric generators that could be coupled to develop 350 horsepower on the propulsion motor at 300 revolutions and, when on station, could singly handle the entire ship's electrical load even under adverse conditions.

114 left Portland on 15 July 1930 for Astoria, Oregon from which she departed 5 August under Captain Jacob Nielsen for her first station at Fire Island, New York with stops at San Francisco, San Pedro, Balboa, Panama, Navassa, Charleston, and Portsmouth to arrive at New York 20 September—the first lightship to make the transit from west to east.

[1][5] The distance of 6,368 nautical miles (7,328 mi; 11,794 km) was accomplished in 31 days, 12 hours, 49 minutes with actual running time of 756.5 hours for an average speed of 9.3 knots (10.7 mph; 17.2 km/h) and maximum speed of 10.3 knots (11.9 mph; 19.1 km/h).

For the next eleven years she served on relief duty until assigned to Pollock Rip station in 1958.

When the Pollock Rip station was discontinued, LV 114 was moved north to Portland, Maine where she served for the final two years of her career.

In 1976 the lightship received a cosmetic overhaul and played a starring role in the city's bicentennial celebrations.

After the failed attempts to sell the lightship, the city had historical artifacts removed from her, then placed the ship on eBay.