Windrose Wharf Guide
The Wharf is the building that turns your ship from a quest reward into something you can actually manage. If you cannot equip cannons, hull bracing, or build later ships, you are usually missing the Wharf or using the wrong station.
How to Unlock the Wharf
Current April 2026 guides place the Wharf unlock after these main quests:
- Rescuing The Crew
- I Need A Bigger Boat
Method also notes you may need to advance the sea-adventure questline to the point where the game asks you to craft 12-Pounder Cannons.
Wharf Build Cost
Current build cost:
- 10 Wood
- 10 Coarse Fabric
Wharf Placement Rules
Current placement rules are consistent across guides and player discussion:
- build it on the coastline
- keep it near the water
- keep it within Bonfire range
If the game refuses to cooperate, the building position is usually the issue.
Where to Find It in the Build Menu
Once unlocked, the Wharf is in:
- Build menu
- Utilities
It appears beside the Fast Travel Bell.
What the Wharf Actually Does
The Wharf handles three major jobs:
- Manage Ship
- build new ships
- repair/salvage destroyed ships
Current community sources also confirm that this is the station you use when recovering a lost ship for 20 Wood.
How to Equip Cannons and Ship Gear
At the Wharf:
- interact with the table
- open Ship Selection
- choose your ship
- click Manage Ship
- drag upgrades into the Ship Gear slots
This is the correct interface for:
- cannons
- hull bracing
- boarding gear
If you are standing at the wrong ship-related building, the gear UI will not work the way you expect.
Shipyard Menu
The Shipyard tab is for building new ships as you progress. Early on, this matters most for the Ketch, but current guides say more ship classes unlock later through further progression and faction standing.
Most Common Mistake
Steam discussion confirms the biggest mistake: players confuse the Shipwright’s Workshop with the Wharf.
Current rule:
- Shipwright’s Workshop crafts ship equipment
- Wharf equips and manages it
Bottom Line
The Wharf is your ship control station.
- unlock it after crew and ship progression
- build it for 10 Wood + 10 Coarse Fabric
- place it on the shoreline
- use Manage Ship to equip upgrades
If ship gear is not going on, go back to the Wharf table, not just the ship itself.
