The release of Sailing has introduced a flood of new content to Old School RuneScape, and with it, an entire suite of fresh money-making opportunities. Whether you are a dedicated ocean explorer levelling your new skill or a landlocked adventurer who prefers avoiding the high seas, the Sailing expansion provides several profitable methods across gathering, processing, and combat.
This guide consolidates the strongest GP/hour options currently available. Because prices are highly volatile in the early life of the skill, all OSRS Gold estimates are rough and should be treated as directional rather than exact. Efficiency, gear quality, and your character’s stats will also influence your results.
To help you progress naturally, all methods are ordered by the Sailing level required so that you can unlock higher-tier islands and higher-value resources as you train.
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Gathering Methods
Hemp & Cotton Farming (No Sailing Requirement)
Two of the easiest Sailing-related money makers do not require Sailing at all. Both hemp and cotton can be grown at the standard hops patches in Lumbridge, Seers’ Village, Yanille, and Taverley (Uldren).
Table of Contents
Key Details:
- Hemp seeds: ~10k each; require 3 per patch (30k).
- Hemp yields ~4k GP each.
- Farming level required: 37.
- Cotton seeds: ~3k each; also require 3 per patch.
- Cotton items sell around ~6k each.
- Farming level required: 71.
Cotton is oddly cheaper than hemp despite requiring a higher level, so profitability fluctuates significantly. Still, both represent easy, low-effort recurring profit.
Coral Nurseries (45 Sailing)
Located at the Great Conch, coral nurseries allow you to grow coral used for new potions. Currently, coral is not profitable, but prices may rise as players refine potion metas. Seeds are inexpensive, so this is a speculative method rather than a guaranteed moneymaker.
Warning:
There are only two coral nursery locations in the entire game, making competition and Ironman accessibility difficult.
Camphor Logs (45 Sailing, 99 Woodcutting Recommended)
At the Great Conch, camphor logs offer solid profit due to proximity to a bank. With a log basket, you effectively double your storage capacity before each trip.
GP/hr Estimate: ~1.7M/hr
Notes:
- Similar speed to chopping digsite trees.
- Forestry worlds can boost efficiency due to group bonuses and random events.
- High Woodcutting and high-tier axes (Crystal Axe + special attack) recommended.
Rainbow Crabs (64 Sailing, 77 Hunter)
One of the most unique additions post-Sailing, rainbow crabs on the Crown Jewel island provide high profit at mid-to-high Hunter levels.
Setup Requirements:
- Build 5 traps once (buckets, planks, nails).
- Use fine fish offcuts as bait (currently expensive).
- Traps follow a predictable rotation, unlike chinchompas.
GP/hr Estimate: ~2.3M/hr
Notes:
- Purple rainbow crabs are currently the most valuable.
- This method is likely to decline in profit over time as supply increases.
- Strongly recommended to dock your boat nearby and use the teleport feature due to the long bank run.
Ironwood Trees (72 Sailing, 80 Woodcutting)
Located at Sun Bleak Island, ironwood logs are needed for mid-to-late-game ship hulls and upgrades.
GP/hr Estimate: ~1.7M/hr
Notes:
- Use a log basket and boat teleport for efficiency.
- High demand for early and mid-game ship construction should keep prices healthy.
Rosewood Trees (79 Sailing, 92 Woodcutting)
One of the highest woodcutting requirements in the entire game. Found at Drumstick Island.
GP/hr Estimate: ~1.7M/hr
Notes:
- XP rates are significantly better than Redwoods with a similar AFK nature.
- Prices will fluctuate sharply based on shipbuilding demand.
- Boat teleport is effectively mandatory—walking dramatically reduces GP/hr.
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Processing & Production Methods
Plank Making at Auburn Veil (No Sailing Requirement)
The new logs introduced by Sailing—camphor, ironwood, and rosewood—can now be converted into planks. The sawmill at Auburn Veil is currently the fastest in the game.
Profitability Notes:
- Rosewood planks are not profitable at the moment due to their 7,500 GP conversion cost.
- Camphor planks: ~700 GP profit each.
- Ironwood planks: ~200 GP profit each.
Using the Plank Make spell boosts efficiency but increases cost due to required runes.
Lead Ore → Lead Bars (1 Sailing, 25 Mining / 25 Smithing)
Unlocked during the early Sailing quest Pandemonium, players can mine lead ore in the underground cave and convert it into bars using the Superheat Spell.
Why It Works:
- Expert mining gloves allow 4 ores per vein before depletion.
- Converting two lead ore into a lead bar yields roughly 1,000 GP profit per bar.
For new Sailing players, this is one of the most efficient low-level moneymakers.
Repair Kits (No Sailing Level, Port Khazard)
Boat repair kits are constantly consumed because sailing creatures damage player ships. They can be produced using planks, nails, and swamp paste.
Current Best Kit:
Teak repair kits show the best margin as of now, but all prices fluctuate.
Tip:
Many players don’t want to craft them, creating steady demand on the Grand Exchange.
Cannonballs (Steel, Adamant, Rune Variants)
Sailing introduced new cannonballs beyond the classic steel variety.
Current Market Notes:
- Rune cannonballs are not profitable right now.
- Adamant cannonballs may offer minimal profit.
- Steel cannonballs remain evergreen due to dwarf multicannon usage.
A double ammo mould from Giants’ Foundry is strongly recommended to double the output per cycle.
Hemp & Cotton Processing (39–73 Crafting)
At Fossil Island, the spinning wheel and loom allow players to convert hemp and cotton into materials required for new ship components, including nets and sailcloth.
Key Profit Notes:
- Turning cotton into balls of yarn is unprofitable.
- But turning two balls of yarn into a bolt of cotton is profitable.
- Hemp conversions are generally profitable.
Throughput: ~2,000 materials processed per hour.
Bonus: Low-intensity method with consistent Crafting XP.
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Combat Methods
Albatross Hunting (No Sailing Level Required)
Albatrosses, found south of Yats, drop Swift Albatross Feathers, a crucial ingredient for the Gale Catcher, a useful onboard facility.
Market Value:
Each feather is ~5,000,000 GP at the time of writing—a massive reward for a mid-tier creature.
Notes:
- Very low supply due to location and newness.
- These prices may drop substantially as more players farm them.
Final Thoughts
Sailing has opened the door to a wave of new economic opportunities in Old School RuneScape. Whether you prefer farming, woodcutting, crafting, or hunting exotic ocean creatures, there are profitable methods for players at every level.
As the market stabilises, some of these GP rates will inevitably decrease, while others—especially those required for ship upgrades—may rise dramatically. Keep an eye on Grand Exchange prices, test methods based on your personal skill levels, and consider banking resources as long-term investments if you believe future demand will spike.
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