rocketman2000
On sail furling on a schooner, I am learning about this myself. I am doing a scratch Great Lakes topsail schooner I wish to display with furled (red) sails.
As John so astutely pointed out, years ago, the distinction will be in fixed versus hoisting gaffs.
Amerchant vessel only has enough crew to "work" her. Which suggests against rigged blocks at the jaws and along the gaff.
The big clippers needed no tackle at the gaf jaws, as they were set in a gooseneck at the mast. A span wire or tackle supported the end of the gaff. All of this needed to support the weight of sail, and the sailors who would have to shinny out on the gaff to pass the gaskets that brail up the sail.
Having a bunch of supporting blocks out along the gaff will interfere with those sailors getting out there. (This then presupposes something not documented well--foot ropes on the gaff--a conundrum of sorts.)
Merchant use suggests "loose footed" sails, so as to not have a boom in the way of cargo handling. And, also any forward stays, which was much needed with a schooner rig.
For the aftmost sail against gaff, mast, and boom tends to look like a distended "C" shape whing the gaff is standing. In a hoistable gaff, the sail is puddled down on the boom and the gaff laid over the bundle.
Typically there is a crutch or brace to support the boom. Some ships will have a fixed wooden arch with a notch into which the boom is lowered by slacking the topping lifts.
Often, there are two such arches, for and aft. Which will have spaces for spars to support and in-port caonpy to shade the after house. On some merchant ships, the life rail stanchions are extended upward to support framing for such a canopy and remain a permanent feature.
This is a strange time of year, with the Soo Locks closed due to ice, so I miss my Ship-spotting.