OSRS: Best Methods to Make More Money (Sailing)

With the recent addition of the Sailing skill in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), players now have access to new and improved ways to earn money!

Learning this new skill will take a lot of resources, and those resources will be popular for some time since many players will need them to improve. This creates a good chance to earn coins by trading on the Grand Exchange.

In this guide, we’ll quickly go over the best moneymaking methods currently available.

Best Methods to Make More Money | OSRS – Sailing Update

Making Lead Bars

You’ll unlock a simple method early in the game through Sailing. You can begin this during the “Pandemonium” quest, specifically after you reach the Pandemonium Cave.

You’ll also need to get your Mining and Smithing skills to Level 25. Luckily, these are fairly easy to achieve, so it shouldn’t take too much time!

This method involves mining Lead Ore in Pandemonium Cave and then smelting it into Lead Bars to sell. Because Lead Bars are used in many sailing crafts, they’re currently very popular and in high demand!

Once you reach Sailing level 47, you can also mine Lead Ore at The Onyx Crest, which is usually less busy. The mining process is the same no matter where you do it.

Bolts of Linen

To use this method, you’ll need a Crafting level of 12. Simply gather as much Flax as you can – either by growing it or buying it – and then use a Spinning Wheel to create Linen Yarn.

Next, combine two pieces of Linen Yarn at a Loom to make one Bolt of Linen.

The process for creating this item is very similar to making Lead Bars. It’s simple to craft, and because it’s used in a lot of Sailing-related recipes, it’s currently quite popular!

Farming Hemp

So, you want to grow hemp! To do this, you’ll need to be at Farming level 37 and have at least 3 Hemp Seeds to get started.

Hemp Seeds are uncommon, but you can find them by defeating many ocean creatures and by salvaging shipwrecks.

After you’ve collected at least 3 Hemp Seeds, plant them in a Hops Patch. Additionally, give 6 Flax to a Gardener so they can help keep an eye on things for you.

Okay, so once my hemp plants are fully grown, it’s time to harvest! Then I have a choice: I can sell the raw hemp right away and make a profit, or I can process it into something else if I want to. It’s pretty cool!

To make this item, you’ll need a Crafting level of 39. First, use a Spinning Wheel to create Hemp Yarn from Hemp. Then, use a Loom to turn the Hemp Yarn into a Bolt of Canvas.

Processing your hemp further will take more time, but you’ll likely earn a higher profit than if you sell it right away. Just be sure to check current market prices in the game to see what will give you the best return!

As a fan of the game, I’ve learned that you need Hemp later on to upgrade your Sails, and the seeds are surprisingly hard to find. Because of that, I think farming and selling Hemp will stay a good way to make money for a while!

Camphor Trees and Planks

Okay, so if you want to check out The Great Conch island, you’ll need to make sure you’ve hit Level 66 Woodcutting first. Plus, you’ll also need to be at least Level 45 Sailing to start the “Troubled Tortugans” quest – that’s what actually unlocks the island for you. It’s a bit of a grind, but totally worth it!

As a sailing enthusiast, I’ve discovered you can gather Camphor Logs on this island by chopping down Camphor Trees! They’re super important because you need them to craft and upgrade things for your ship, like better masts and sails. Definitely stock up when you’re exploring!

You can also convert logs into Camphor Planks using a Sawmill or the Plank Make spell. These planks are necessary for upgrading your sailing ship to higher tiers and for crafting Repair Kits.

Camphor Logs and Planks are valuable and sell well because they require a fairly high Woodcutting level and are used in many upgrades. Plus, Woodcutting is an easy skill to train while mostly playing other things!

Salvaging

This activity is unique to Sailing and lets you earn money and gain experience while playing AFK (away from keyboard). You can begin once you’ve equipped a Salvaging Hook on your ship, which requires Sailing level 15 or higher.

To get loot, simply locate shipwrecks at sea and use the Salvaging Hook to recover them! You’ll receive a random assortment of items and gain Sailing XP. You can then organize these items using a Salvaging Station, which you can find on your ship or at any dock.

To be realistic, most of the items you find won’t be very valuable. This is particularly true when you’re first starting out with Sailing, as your choices are more limited.

The game becomes more rewarding when you unlock Barracuda Shipwrecks (level 35) and Large Shipwrecks (level 53). These areas contain valuable items like Hemp Seeds, as well as Rings, Oysters, Cannonballs, and other profitable finds.

The process gets faster as you progress, thanks to additions like a built-in Salvaging Station, more Salvaging Hooks, and Crewmates who can handle much of the work for you.

This isn’t a super effective way to earn money, but it’s very easy to do and perfect for letting your character passively gain Sailing experience while you’re away from the keyboard.

Cannonballs

Finally, you can craft and sell cannonballs. Demand for these has increased significantly, especially with the addition of new types and their importance in naval combat using cannons.

Making cannonballs isn’t always the same, as the specific ingredients and your Smithing skill level depend on the quality of the cannonball you’re trying to create. Better quality cannonballs require rarer materials and a higher Smithing level, but they also sell for more money.

Regardless, here are the basics for each tier in order from most common to rarest:

Bronze Cannonball – 5 Smithing, 1 Bronze Bar.
Iron Cannonball – 20 Smithing, 1 Iron Bar.
Steel Cannonball – 35 Smithing, 1 Steel Bar.
Mithril Cannonball – 55 Smithing, 1 Mithril Bar.
Adamant Cannonball – 75 Smithing, 1 Adamantite Bar.
Rune Cannonball – 90 Smithing, 1 Runite Bar.
Dragon Cannonball – Can not be crafted, only found randomly as loot from ocean monsters and Salvaging.

You get 4 Cannonballs from each bar. Because of this, it can sometimes be faster and more profitable to simply buy the bars and then make them into Cannonballs. However, prices change frequently, so always double-check the current costs to make sure it’s a good deal.

We anticipate continued strong demand and profitability for Cannonballs. Since they’re used up during naval battles and are essential for fighting at sea, this is likely to remain true for the near future.

That covers our top tips for earning more gold in Old School RuneScape after the Sailing update. We hope this guide is helpful, and wish you the best of luck trading on the Grand Exchange!

2025-11-29 13:38