Whakatāne Yacht Club sits on a rocky outcrop along the Whakatāne River and serves as one of the river's main water-access points.

Now in its seventh decade, the club operates an 18-berth marina built in 1997 that accommodates recreational vessels and provides secure mooring during flood events.

Club nights run on Wednesdays and Fridays, and the clubrooms can be hired for private gatherings. In recent years the marina has faced persistent silting problems.

Boats have been grounding at low tide, and access through the adjacent navigation channel is restricted to roughly two hours either side of high tide.

Ongoing disputes over dredging responsibilities between the club and the district council have left the marina without maintenance since 2020, prompting some members to relocate their vessels to Tauranga.