OSRS Sailing Guide 2025

The Crystal Extractor is a piece of equipment used in the Sailing skill that allows players to harvest sea crystals and other valuable resources from the ocean. It can be built at level 40 Sailing and comes in three tiers, with higher tiers providing better yields and XP bonuses.

You must retract your Crystal Extractor before docking. Right-click the extractor and select "Retract", then wait for the animation to complete before attempting to dock. The extractor status should show "Stowed" before docking will work.

To build a Crystal Extractor, you need: Level 40 Sailing, 50 Steel Bars, 100 Planks, 20 Sea Glass, and 75,000 GP. Visit the Shipwright at Port Sarim Shipyard and select "Build Equipment" → "Crystal Extractor".

The best location depends on your level. At level 40-55, use Coral Atoll Waters. At 55-65, Azure Depths is optimal. At 65-80, Crystal Deep provides great returns. At 80+, Prismatic Trench offers the highest GP/hr potential (500K-800K with optimal setup).

Yes! Sailing is one of the most profitable skills in OSRS. With a high-level setup (Man O' War with 4 Tier 3 Crystal Extractors), you can earn 800K-1.2M GP/hr while also gaining decent XP. Even mid-level players can earn 200-400K GP/hr.

From level 1 to 99, you need approximately 13,034,431 XP. At average XP rates: Beginner (15K/hr): ~870 hours, Mid-game (40K/hr): ~326 hours, End-game (70K/hr): ~186 hours. The actual time depends on your efficiency and whether you prioritize XP or GP.

The fastest leveling method varies by level bracket: Levels 1-20: Complete tutorial quests and basic navigation. Levels 20-40: Extended voyages and ship upgrades. Levels 40-60: Crystal Extractor in optimal zones. Levels 60-99: Optimized extraction routes with best equipment. Always prioritize ship upgrades when available.

The Crystal Extractor is semi-AFK. Once deployed, it automatically harvests resources, but you need to collect them when your cargo fills up (typically every 5-10 minutes depending on yield rate). You also need to be in a crystal zone for extraction to work. Weather events may interrupt extraction.

The Man O' War (Level 90) is the best ship for Crystal Extraction with 4 extractor slots and maximum cargo capacity. However, the Galleon (Level 70) is a great mid-tier option with 3 slots. For beginners, the Brigantine (Level 50) with 2 slots is the first ship that can run dual extractors efficiently.

Crystal Extractor upgrades require: Tier 2 (Level 65): 100 Steel Bars, 50 Mithril Bars, 50 Azure Crystals, 500K GP. Tier 3 (Level 85): 50 Adamant Bars, 25 Runite Bars, 25 Deep Crystals, 2M GP. Visit the Shipwright and select "Upgrade Equipment".

Yes, weather significantly impacts Crystal Extractor efficiency. Calm weather: 100% efficiency. Light wind: 90% efficiency. Storm: 50% efficiency, may force retraction. Hurricane: Extraction impossible, must seek port. Check the weather forecast before long extraction runs.

Sailing offers unique rewards including: Sea Crystals (valuable crafting materials), unique ship cosmetics, Sailing Cape (Level 99), access to exclusive islands with unique monsters, Sailing-only equipment (Navigator's outfit), and unique pets. The Crystal Extractor itself produces various tiers of crystals worth significant GP.

You can start Sailing at any combat level, but for optimal experience, having at least base 60+ combat stats and completing some key quests is recommended. Mid-game accounts (with quest points and basic PVM unlocks) will find the most value from Sailing's shortcuts, resources, and GP opportunities. Early-game players can still enjoy the skill but may find some content challenging.

Sailing can be a rewarding first 99 if you enjoy the maritime fantasy and exploration aspects. It offers decent profit potential along the way, especially with Crystal Extractors. However, if your primary goal is the fastest or cheapest 99, traditional skilling choices like Cooking or Fletching may be quicker. That said, Sailing provides a unique experience that many players find more engaging than repetitive bankstanding skills.

Yes! Sailing is particularly valuable for ironman accounts. It provides access to unique resource streams, shortcuts that speed up gameplay, and facilities like the Crystal Extractor that generate materials for other skills. The self-sufficient nature of ironman mode makes Sailing's resource generation and travel QoL especially attractive, even if raw GP/hr isn't the main focus.

Sailing is closer to skilling than dangerous PVM. You're more likely to lose time or resources than the ship itself. Extreme weather or high-level routes may have harsher penalties, but casual routes are forgiving. Ship damage can be repaired at ports, and even if something goes wrong, you won't lose your ship permanently. Think of it as risk management rather than hardcore gameplay.

Docking problems are common for new sailors. Try these fixes: 1) Always stop completely before docking - your ship must be stationary. 2) Click the designated dock tiles, not general shoreline. 3) Keep a consistent camera angle to avoid mis-clicks. 4) Ensure you meet any level or quest requirements for that dock. 5) Check if your Crystal Extractor or other equipment needs to be retracted first. 6) Verify you're at the correct island - some look similar on the map.

"Wrong" usually means the island doesn't fit your preferred routes. Before panicking: 1) Try adjusting your routes to include the island more naturally. 2) Use it as a "side project" extractor for occasional visits. 3) If the game allows, you may be able to build a second extractor elsewhere for your main loop. 4) Consider that any extractor generating resources is better than none - optimization can come later once you understand your playstyle better.

For most players, two routes are enough: a chill AFK route for relaxed sessions, and a focus route for when you want to push efficiency. If you find yourself constantly bored or overwhelmed, add a third "medium" route. Don't create so many that you forget how they work. Quality over quantity - a well-practiced route will always outperform a complicated one you're still learning.

Only if you enjoy them. Pushing 150k+ XP/hr can be fun if you like intense, planned gameplay, but it's absolutely not required. Many players prefer a 70-100k XP/hr route that lets them relax, watch something, or chat while still feeling productive. The "best" method is one you'll actually do consistently rather than burning out after a few hours of sweaty gameplay.

Yes! Most OSRS clients allow keybind adjustments. For Sailing, consider: 1) Setting a keybind for Crystal Extractor retraction. 2) Customizing camera panning controls. 3) Binding common ship actions to comfortable keys. 4) Adjusting mouse sensitivity for precise docking. Spending a few minutes on initial setup will make Sailing feel significantly smoother and save you hours of frustration in the long run.

Any new skill tends to see balance changes as the developers gather player feedback. Approach Sailing with a flexible mindset: invest enough to enjoy it and unlock core value, but avoid overcommitting to ultra-niche strategies that might change. The core mechanics and progression system are unlikely to change dramatically, but specific GP/hr rates and XP values may be adjusted over time.