In the South

[faraway]

The size (height) of the coaster is one point but the height of the pier is the other point. The piers in the harbor of Hamburg used for "real cargo vessels" (at least 10.000tons) are so high the coaster would be mostly hidden. Another point is the tide. I have no idea about the tide at the US Pacific coast?

Here an example at a very low pier: http://lh4.ggpht.com/_GfGUIgDKNCU/RyAfHk...G_0081.jpg
This a more mature pier: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...achter.jpg