Margate Harbour is a small drying site with limited protection, lying a couple of miles to the west of North Foreland. It is only suitable for boats that can take the ground and sit reasonably upright as the bottom consists of fairly hard sand.(And the walls aren't yachts friendly). It is also really only suitable for shallow draught boats as parts of the harbour dry to around 3 m. It is protected by a large stone breakwater and can give protection from the Northeast, East, South and South West. There is no real protection from the West or Northwest, and shelter from the North is marginal.

For a quick stop off at high water it is suitable. If intending to dry out overnight a careful eye will be needed or the weather to make sure the wind doesn't swing round to the North West. ... read more

If coming from the East and passing or rounding the North Foreland the Mariner will most probably leave the red can Longnose Buoy on his port side. It is simply then a matter of heading West perhaps with a touch of South, (keeping well offshore to avoid rocky ledges), and locating and identifying the large and conspicuous northerly cardinal mark(Q) lying to the north of Margate. This marks the ruins of a pier that was wrecked by storms. To avoid the hidden reminds lurking under the surface keep well to seawards of this mark before turning in and aiming for the end of the breakwater with its conspicuous lighthouse (F.R). ... read more

The inside of the breakwater is not really suitable for laying a keelboat alongside, so the only other option for boats able to take the ground and sit upright is to anchor.

Using the chart as your guide nose in and find your spot. The bottom is clean hard sand, but if anchoring anywhere near moored boats it would be wise to buoy the anchor to avoid foulings. ... read more