Macgregor 26X or 26M as a motor cruiser only - which one to choose?

[Herschel]

Clearly, our family's aversion to the aft berth isn't gaining much traction, so I'll shift my focus to the weight distribution issue and the placement of gas tanks. I honestly can't imagine putting gasoline down in the cabin. Keeping the tanks in the designed lockers in the cockpit allows any fumes to dissipate outside and any slight spillage during refueling to be swabbed up easily. I can fit a 9-gallon tank in each locker for a total of 18 gallons. Plus, I have placed a 2-gallon tank under the captain's seat temporarily on one occasion. If you are in calm waters and not at the max personnel (6) crew, you can cruise pretty efficiently for a good distance without the ballast tanks filled. Even with them filled at moderate cruising speed, 20 gallons will get you a reasonable distance. As for weight, I have two 9-gallon freshwater tanks permanently installed and plumbed under the V berth on the starboard side and my two batteries under the V berth on the port side. Battery switch and dual charger is under the single seat aft of the galley. That extra weight forward is very helpful for getting up on a plane and for balancing out the cockpit when all the crew is aft. There, that said, I'll crawl back into my V berth and enjoy that gentle breeze coming through the forward hatch. Now where did I stick my latest Louis L'Amour novel?

[dlandersson]

I like the Alexander Kent series, myelf

Now where did I stick my latest Louis L'Amour novel?