There are several YouTube videos on how to carry a kayak on a roof rack and they offered some good tips. Bottom line though is that at some point the kayak has to be lifted onto the rack which is several inches higher than the roof line. In many of the videos the kayak is placed on a roof rack that is mounted on a small car which puts the top of the rack at about shoulder height.
The Jeep Rubicon is taller than a car, plus the Rubicon model has a lift kit for additional clearance under the vehicle. With the help of a neighbor, who was acting as a spotter just in case, I was able to lift the front of the kayak onto the rear crossbar of the roof rack and slide it forward until the front crossbar matched the small depression in the kayak topsides where the paddle rests when not in use. This was quite convenient.
The rear crossbar then fit between the rear of the cockpit opening and the Old Town's hatch cover. Somewhat serendipitous. Couldn't (and didn't actually) plan it any better. The crossbars have pads by the way.
For more detailed shots, see my web page: https://sites.google.com/site/herbskayak/
