the controversy generated by the frigate's unconventional design reached a peak in 1869 when a naval commission examined and condemned the vessel. rear admiral louis m. goldsborough, commodore charles s. boggs, and engineers edward d. robie, john w. moore, and isaac newton judged the ship unacceptable for active duty in the navy. they complained of her unusually large machinery spaces, heavy coal consumption, and found particular fault with her narrow breadth relative to her length. the commission said this caused inordinate rolling and straining of the vessel. they calculated that of all the weight the hull could accommodate, 84% was taken up by engines, boilers and coal supplies, leaving only 16% for masts, sails, rigging, anchors, guns, provisions and water. "wampanoag" also burned 136 tons of coal a day, enough for only five days of steaming: a serious handicap in a commerce raider which could be expected to spend most of its time chasing down enemy ships on the high seas. as a result, "florida" remained in ordinary at new york for five years before departing on 5 march 1874, bound for new london, connecticut, to become a receiving and store ship at the naval station there.