RV-4 Ferry Flight
Russ,
I am about the same size as your buddy and unless the RV-4 has rear seat footwells he will not be very comfortable after about 45 mins. I did a 2 hop back seat RV-4 flight (no footwells) when I bought mine and I was more than ready to get out for good at the first fuel stop (~1 1/2 hours).
Now if the -4 has rear seat footwells that's another animal altogether. I installed rear footwells this past winter and everyone that rides has no complaints now. It makes a huge difference in passenger comfort. Hopefully he can try on a -4 for size. From the RV white pages it looks like there are 12 RV-4s in Ontario province. If he is going to fly roughly 2,000 (Vancouver to Toronto) miles without back seat footwells at his size he will not be a happy camper unless you guys swap seats each leg but since he is not a pilot I think that won't work either.
Even the front seat is not the most roomy cockpit but with good seats (DJ from Cleaveland Tool made mine) you can fly a long way but I don't think I'd ever get in the back of a -4 again unless it's a short flight.
Oly