Hello Maugan17,
You have not seen the SC mast base and pin. With the pin in place the mast base can act as a hinge for raising and lowering the mast. When the mast is vertical, it is free to rotate with the pin still in place. The SC mast base and pin act like a universal joint, free to flex, rotate, swivel in any direction, but at the same time it will not allow the mast base to come off the ball. It is slick trick, 1978 technology!
Bill
Bill