The USCG towed Lipan from San Fransisco to the Coast Guard's yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland where she was re-outfitted for her new duties and was commissioned as a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter on February 20th, 1981.  USCGC Lipan WMEC 85, repainted in Coast Guard colors, was home ported in Key West, Florida. While there she participated in 30 drug smuggling busts, the seizure & arrest of the crew of the FV CAPTJACK which was involved in an attempted invasion of Cuba, and rendered assistance to 47 vessels and over 200 persons in Search & Rescue Operations.  The Coast Guard decommissioned Lipan, 7 years later, on March 31st, 1988.