My mast base is "home made", just a cilinder with a spheric cavity, as you can see on the picture. As it doesn´t have a slot to allow the rod to fit in at low angles, it will always pop out. But if I position the trailer mast cradle in the right place, I can use it as support, to start raising and stop lowering at a minimum angle, then it doesn´t pop out. It doesn´t work for stepping the mast from the trailer (in that case I've managed to raise it with someone standing on the ground, helping me get some angle).

When lowering it frecuently pops out, either if I'm too lazy to position the trailer or if I'm lowering from the trailer. I always use the safety line (externally) and never ask anybody to receive the mast, even if there is somene available. When the mast pops out, it´s hard to control it, but it is possible to drop it smooth enough. I would say the harder issue to overcome for solo righting is to be able to keep kids and people away from the landing spot. But I guess that applies to everybody, not just to my weird setup.

I have thought of some upgrade to make the mast step captive, but I was suspicious about the ball popping out of the rod. Now that I see it has happened to at least three, I'm not sure if it´s really worth. Not whith the old ball I have anyway...