Stephen, our dodger only goes to the back of the boom so the bimini actually sits above the level of the boom. Therefore, full headroom. I am 6" and a bit and I can stand up full height under it. Attached picture shows how this all works.

Stephen, almost all of our biminis were custom done by the owners at some point. I suspect that virtually none is identical with another.

I regret to say I am not 6'1" tall, but when I need unrestricted visibility I like to stand on the seat (shelf?) at the helm and look completely over my dodger. Especially when I am maneuvering in a marina I want a clear view, and in a drizzle or rain I always open up the dodger's center panel. Because of this obsession with a crystal clear view I had my bimini fabricator set the bimini high enough so I could stand on the helm shelf. This is higher than the bottom of the boom, so there must be a transition between the bimini and the dodger (with a big window in it, but my need for a clear view still bugs me enough to typically remove the transition for close quarter maneuvering).

If you're going to re-do your canvas, you have an opportunity to get them to make it the way you want it. It's worth having it designed to your wishes. Sounds like some of the s/s hardware is there already, so maybe they only have to bend new tubing.

Stephen,
Another thing you could do is to adjust the bimini so that it is taller at the aft end, where you typically stand, and lower near the forward end, where you don't typically stand. That way, the height at the forward end can be always lower than the boom. Aesthetically it might not be as pleasing, but functionally it might work for you. Just a thought.

If tilted forward it would drain forward when it rained, he has no dodger. Steven, Bud & Larry pretty much nailed it. Another way to say it is you can't change the laws of physics: your boom and a bimini can't be in the same place at the same time.

One thing we have done is kept the "deliberately low" dodger we have on our boat, so we can see OVER it. Our PO was very short, so this may not work for you, but we're both 5'-10" only three inches shorter than you are. If you then add a bimini aft of the dodger and aft of the aft end of the boom, you can be covered and stand up and still see over the dodger, so you don't have to do the "dance" that Larry does to see through unobstructed.

Tom is correct: unless you have stock Catalina canvas (and I don't think they "did" biminis back then or even now, only dodgers from what I've seen) your best bet is to look around for canvas places based on your own likes and dislikes, needs & wants. You'll kinda have to "design-it-yourself" to find something that works for you.

Most all are "custom." And since you had something that worked for you on your C30, is there the possibility of doing something similar?

Welcome to the group. Congratulations on your new boat.

Stephan,

I, too, have a boom that will touch the bimini before I get the leach tight enough, due to having a very tired old mainsail. So far, I have lived with it.

Our full length bimini is permanent in our sailing grounds except for approaching hurricanes. It is hgih enough to clear my 5 ft 7 inch height with lots of room to spare, but I have never measured it.

When I replace the main, I will likely have to choose between a standard less-expensive sail, or a custom sail that will keep the boom a few inches higher.

It is ironic that this thread was just started. The first mate and I just installed a piece of glass in the very top of the dodger because I was having some difficulty in seeing forward from the aft end of the cockpit. I must agree with the others who have posted here, almost every Catalina 36 has a different set up with their bimini and dodger. Welcome to the organization Stephen.