How do you reach seacocks?

With a seacock handle helper

seacock handle helper - Bing images

Some cocks offer a 1/2" square hole in the handle end. Good for a 1/2" drive ratchet or breaker bar.
There are off-set tools also available to help in hard to get to locations.

However, I do agree with Pascal, If these important items are installed in bad locations, No telling what other items were not thought thru during design and construction.
I would have had serious reservations on this if I was the purchaser.

That big bin in the way does not look factory. Would removing that help get to the cocks?

I put zerk fittings in mine a few years ago and it kept them smooth enough for me to hand exercise them with a piece of PVC pipe just long enough to get them started. I also put a pair of these in the pit to grab in a hurry. https://www.topshelfmarine.com/product/sea-cock-ball-valve-helper/ Groco put zerk studs in so you don't have to tap the holes, unless you break those little babies off. Do this out of the water.

I will second this. I have seven seacocks, I know where they are, they work, there is nothing too heavy in the compartment that can get loose and bang in to them (short of batteries that get loose when you turn the boat upside down but then you have bigger problems) and I can close them all in under 2 minutes. (And do so when I leave the boat.)

From the pic I don't see a problem or anything out of the norm. Things on boats often require contortions to reach. I've never seen the handle holder J cited. Not bad, but the angle worries me for the stress it'll put on the handle. Personally I'd just keep a small length of galvanized (not PVC) pipe there to slip over the handle for better leverage. I commend the poster who checks his sea cocks at the start of season and monthly during the season. From your lips to every boater's ears.

Have to agree, unless its just really hard to tell the proportions in the picture, the location of both, while not perfect, seem to fall within the "normal" range compared to other boats. The bin is the only issue I see. Without the bin in the way you should be able to put yourself in a position to reach across the shaft and grab either handle without much effort.

Looks like those raw water hoses have seen better days though ..

Me too. That's why I retired. Others have kids to handle these issues. In the mean time think Ben Gay and Aleve (my diet for this morning after a lot of crouching yesterday).

The handle doesn't really put undue stress on it, as long as you pull it in the direction the handle should go, can be used directly on top of it or at 90, it's set up for both.

Yeah, looks like a good gizmo. I've just had enough things bend or break over the years from putting all the pressure on the far end of a handle to prefer a device that puts the pressure closer to the pivot point. However if the seacocks are maintained and worked regularly either way should work fine.

My buddy's 46' Post engine seacocks are just about impossible to reach during normal maintenance and winterization. I do not know how you would get to them in an emergency and to use the crash valves.

I think that many of the posts in this thread may be the result of unrealistic expectations. Sea cocks will need to be shut fast only one time, if ever, during a boat's life. The convenience of its location doesn't matter as long as it can be closed. How many times do we get questions from people who can't find the water pump or fluxgate compass or.... A 30' boat will have many systems similar to what you'll find on a 200' yacht, but shrunk down and crammed into the available space like 10 lbs. of meat in a 5 lb. sausage wrap. The cure would be to get smaller motors or maybe just one. Are you willing to give up the horses? Things have to be put where they can be and convenience is not the #1 priority for things not used everyday. I'll bet the coffee maker is conveniently located. Some things won't be conveniently located and it's on the owners to figure out how they must be gotten to. It's not like everything can be operated by a switch at the helm. I once had an old 8 cylinder car. When I went to change the plugs I found 7 were easy, but the 8th required me to put the car on a lift to get to. Not convenient, but how many times would the car's owner change his own plugs? Just make sure the seacock handle moves easily and that you have the right adapter you need to be able to do it. This is why I caution owners to dig into their boats to learn where everything is, how they operate and that they do work, because when an emergency arises you may be making the repair in cold water in the dark.