Fred,
I'll give an alternate view. Maybe it's because we have great memories from the quaint place that Telegraph Cove used to be, but we really disliked it the last time we launched there two years ago. The new development seems just....tacky to me. The construction and materials look like they'll deteriorate in 10 years, unlike the older buildings that were built to last. The atmosphere was too commercial. The launch is very nice but I found the on water experience to be really tight. It is close to the Broughtons, but there's really nothing there in the way of provisions.
We launched in Port McNeil last year and were happier. There was power on the docks so that if we got there late we could have power overnight. It has a big marina and every boating, fishing, shrimping and camping supply that you can imagine. The marina is friendly and well managed.
Both places are going to be crowded in July and August. Port McNeil is a little more distance than Telegraph Cove, but we ran back from the Broughtons in about an hour cutting across Queen Charlotte Strait in good weather. We also liked visiting Alert Bay and Sointula which are between the Broughtons and Port McNeil.
Either launch point will work fine for you, but we'll be launching from Port McNeil again this year when we go the first two weeks of September.
Lyle