[2] Engine exhaust was ported through the transom rather than through a conventional stack and this permitted a 360-degree view from the bridge; a feature that was very useful in search and rescue work as well as a combat environment.

[2][3] The regular escort of communist vessels continued through 1973; after this date the main thrust of her work on Lake Ontario was law enforcement.

The FV Skyware was 30 mi (48 km) off Cape Romano, Florida, when she caught fire and Point Steele answered the distress call.

[2][3] On 19 March, the FV El Principe del Golfo was seized by the cutter with 20,000 lb (9,100 kg) of marijuana on board off the coast of Florida.

On 3 December she seized and sank the workboat New Jerusalem 8 mi (13 km) southeast of Miami, Florida after finding hazardous health conditions on the vessel in addition to 49 illegal migrants and 200 lb (91 kg) of marijuana.

After intercepting a sailboat 50 mi (80 km) south of Nassau, Bahamas she turned 100 Haitian migrants over to immigration authorities in September 1985.

On 14 October she seized the shrimp boat Black and White with 55,000 lb (25,000 kg) of marijuana 34 mi (55 km) southwest of Sanibel Island.

On 5 May she seized FV My Girls carrying 50,000 lb (23,000 kg) of marijuana 30 mi (48 km) west of Cape Romano, Florida.