Merchant Shipwreck Salvaging Guide
Merchant shipwreck salvaging has quickly emerged as one of the most consistent and low-intensity Sailing training methods in Old School RuneScape. Following Jagex’s recent nerf-and immediate rollback-of the crystal extractor’s XP output, many players have been left wondering whether merchant wrecks remain worthwhile. This guide consolidates an eight-hour test run at the double-wreck spawn, detailing required preparation, operating procedures, expected XP rates, and realistic loot outcomes. If you are approaching the late-game Sailing grind and considering merchant wrecks as a core method, the information below will equip you to begin efficiently, especially if you prefer progressing through in-game methods rather than looking for external shortcuts such as buy OSRS gold.
Prerequisites and Setup
Accessing merchant shipwrecks requires 87 Sailing. At minimum, your vessel should be seaworthy with up-to-date equipment. Before beginning the session, upgrade any lagging components—specifically your helm—so the boat can traverse deeper waters safely.
For optimal salvaging efficiency, bring the following:
• Double Salvaging Hooks – Enables simultaneous salvage from both wreck nodes.
• Salvaging Station – Allows you to process items directly on the ship.
• Crystal Extractor – Despite its XP reduction, it remains worthwhile for incidental experience.
• Crew Members – Two level-4 deckhands are ideal. Assign one to each salvaging hook to maintain continuous throughput. A captain or ex-captain can simply steer and maintain navigation quality.
Crew assignment is more streamlined via the crew management interface, which eliminates repetitive dialog and makes it easy to position hands on specific hooks. For convenience during salvage sorting, place one deckhand on the starboard hook if your cargo hold is on the port side. This reduces movement across the deck when depositing or withdrawing materials.
Sailing to the Double-Wreck Spot
Merchant shipwrecks spawn far south of Deep Fin Point. Recover your boat at Deep Fin Point and note that recovery fees now draw directly from the bank—no coins required in inventory. Once boarded, assign your crew to stations, prepare the hooks, and set course directly south.
Players using the Sailing plugin in the client will find travel and positioning significantly easier. The plugin highlights active shipwreck nodes, making it obvious when you have located the high-value double-wreck spawn. Position the ship squarely between both nodes before initiating the first salvage cycle.
Salvaging Procedures and Rotation
Once anchored in the double spot, hop onto one salvaging hook while your crew member works the other. Keep the cargo hold open or easily accessible to streamline sorting cycles. Approximately every 20–30 minutes, withdraw the accumulated materials, sort them, and drop unwanted items. Setting all non-valuable items to left-click drop is strongly recommended to reduce downtime.
The crystal extractor should be used opportunistically. While manually camping it yields higher hourly XP, even passive activation when noticed contributes meaningful experience. Players seeking maximum hourly rates will micromanage extractor cooldowns, but the method performs well even with casual attention.
Expected XP Rates and Performance
In the test session, early XP stabilized around 75,000 XP per hour, increasing gradually as sorting efficiency improved. Over the full eight hours, the account gained 668,000 Sailing XP, averaging 82,500 XP per hour. With meticulous extractor cycling and manual operation of both hooks, players can reasonably exceed this figure.
The method’s most significant strength is its low intensity. Double wreck nodes persist far longer than those at earlier shipwreck tiers, allowing extended periods of autopilot salvaging. Even with multiple away-from-keyboard interruptions, XP remained consistent throughout the test.
Loot Overview
Merchant shipwreck salvaging is not a money-making method, but it offers moderate supplementary income. Across eight hours, the total loot amounted to approximately 2.44 million GP, including coins, platinum tokens, rune cannonballs, dragon cannonballs, herbs, uncut gems, seeds, and Sailing-specific repair supplies.
Notable uniques available here include:
• Sailor’s Amulet
• Dragon Nails
• Moldy Doll
• Dragon Cannon Barrel (~12.5 million GP)
• Dragon Cannonball (also a collection log slot)
Some players have reported collection log bugs where the dragon cannonball does not trigger a log entry, despite being obtained. While this does not affect loot value, players chasing logs should be aware.
Final Assessment
Merchant shipwreck salvaging offers reliable, relaxing late-game Sailing experience. With low attention requirements and XP rates exceeding 80k per hour in double-wreck positions, the method is highly competitive for players aiming for level 99. While its loot is modest, the method’s consistency and low effort profile make it a strong choice for sustained multi-hour grinds, especially for players who prefer steady progression over volatile money-making methods and would rather avoid relying on external options like cheap RS gold to fund their training.