The engine on my boat is pretty much buried in an area that is all stowage and galley. And the engine and drive chain are too long to access both the front and the back from one spot. You have to open up areas fore and aft - to it. Right now there is no easy side access as panels are fixed closing off the engine area. That's a good idea because you don't want stuff sliding down in there to cause electrical shorts, lay against moving or hot parts(another fire potential), or knock a cockpit seacock off. I may figure out an easy to remove panel on one or both sides.

The old hatches had padlock hasps which were mounted so the hasp could hook the ring when a lid dropped. I'll be sure the clasps have no ability to do that(pretty simple-clasp down).

The manhole on this cockpit is directly above the end of the bronze stern tube and stuffing box. Once seated, you have headroom to the cockpit sole. About as good as you'll get in a hull shape like this.