buying used sails

I have a chance to buy some h16 sails from a 1970 something boat- they said is was a 78 but the red white and blue sails look like they are ones that came off a 1974 or maybe a 1977, the hulls were sold to make a pontoon boat so I can't look at the hull numbers and I forgot the sail number on them but it seemed to be only 5 digits. The lettering on the main are still attached and look almost new. I have a chance to buy the sails ,the rudders and tiller arm and boom all as a set for less than 300.00 good deal or not?
The sails appear to be in very good shape, only one small hole on the main where a tell-tell apparenty was, they have been stored inside for the last 20+ years. I was wondering if the thread would still be good after that amount of time? They seem crisp, but is there a way to tell by bending or squeezing them. The leech seems very straight compared to my flamer sails. They are marked with hobie numbers but they also have a circle emblem of a sail company sewn on the sail, did different companies make the sails for Hobie back then?
I also cannot tell if the rudders are plastic or fiberglass, they have been sitting outside for probably 20 years, they have a ridge at the top so would they be plastic or something else? Is there a way to tell what they are made of, are there markings on them somewhere?
My boat is also yellow, would the red white and blue sails with a yellow boat and a yellow furling jib look silly? I may paint the boat this winter, I was thing white would help everything match.
Thanks for the advice!!
1980 H16
John G.

Used sails are a difficult call, especially ones as old as you describe. Sails are the boat's engines and suspicion of a used engine is warranted. They certainly can not be used for racing, but if pushing you and your boat's limits (even recreationally) is not important then perhaps the sails could be useful. Additionally, the jib is the first to go. If the leech of the jib luffs, then it's blown and very little can be done about it, and although it will work, don't expect it to last much longer.

Plastic rudder blades bend slightly in the middle when pushed with your hand, fiberglass ones don't.

Old boats had either acrylic (actually I think it's ABS Plastic) or lexan blades. Both are very heavy.

ABS blades are brittle & prone to snapping in two. Rap on them with your knuckles and they have a ring (of sorts).

The lexan last forever, but are extremely flexable. Not very precise and a hinderance going to weather. Rap on them & sounds like a dull thud.

Either will work for general sailing fun, but the ABS will eventually fail catastrophically.

Sometimes when I pinch, the foot of my jib will luff, does this mean that it's no longer usefull?

Thanks,
Eric

Sounds bad to me. As I understand it, a jib catches, compresses, and speeds the air flow over the lee side of the main, thus giving more power to the main (sort of like how a turbo works on a car engine). If the jib is causing eddies in the air flow over the main then its not doing its job properly.

Unlike some other products, sails really don't go bad over time. If a sail were brand new and stored for 20 years (indoor, away from moisture and sunlight and critters) and then pulled out, it would be as good as it was when it was put away.

The only exception that I can think of to this might be if the sail were folded rather than rolled, it would most likely have noticable creases in it. If one of the vinyl windows were heavily creased, it could possibly lead to a weakness in the window. One way to check for sun damage with colored sails, is to look under one of the seams to see how much the material has faded when compared to original.

If the sail is old but still in good shape, it might be worth considering if the price is right.

If the rudders have been sitting outside for 20 some years uncovered, they are most likely shot. Sunlight will will kill them. That said, my EPO rudders from 20 years ago are still good, but they are covered when not in use.

sm