The yacht was designed by Gardner and Cox of New York and under construction as hull 295 by Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works (also known as John Roach & Company), of Chester, Pennsylvania The Navy inspected the vessel before completion and purchased it contingent on a guarantee of a speed of 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h).

The engine out performed the guarantee requirement and averaged 16 kn (18 mph; 30 km/h) over six hours during trials with an indicated 600 horsepower with a low rate of coal consumption.

A General Electric dynamo, located in the engine room was rated at illumination of 100 16 candle power lights.

[2][3] Soon after commissioning, Sylph was assigned to the Washington Navy Yard, where she served as a yacht for the President and other high officials.

On arrival at the lit yacht passengers gathered on the port side of the overloaded motor launch Item causing it to capsize.

On 24 January 1921, she was called upon to carry the body of the late minister of Sweden down the Potomac and through the over Chesapeake Bay to Hampton Roads.

[2] On 12 October 1935 Franklin D. Roosevelt recounted in his message regarding the restoration of Stratford Hall a trip he made during his service in the Wilson Administration (Assistant Secretary of the Navy (1913–1919)) with a group traveling aboard "the small Presidential Yacht Sylph" to visit the ruin of the plantation "at an apparently uninhabited section of the lower Potomac.

She continued to cross the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers until 19 November 1928, when she moored at the Washington Navy Yard to remain for the rest of her career.

[2] Sylph first served as a deep sea party fishing vessel, open to the public and operating out of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.

[9] The 1931 U.S. registry shows owner being Frank P. Clair, in passenger service with a crew of 7 registered at New York, N.Y.

[4] In 1939 Sylph became a ferry making scheduled commuter runs from Manhattan to Sea Gate, Brooklyn until about 1950 when the service and vessel were abandoned.