Jason, to start, I use a 120 grit sanding disc on a 4 1/2" rubber pad attached to a power drill to get off the deep scratchs and nicks on the blades. May even use a file. After that, it is 240 grit wet or dry sheet 11" x 8" sandpaper torn into quarters and then folded to be used by hand, and then up the scale, all by hand, to 320, 400, 600, 800, and 1500 grit. At that point, the surface is smooth enough for the buffing compounds on a 3" cloth buffing wheel on a power drill can take over - buffing rouge, Mothers Mag and Aluminum Polish, and Flitz. After the buffing, then back to the areas that need more sanding and buffing.
This prop had scratches all over the blades, as you can see from the before pictures. Have about 5 to 6 hours of labor in it so far. Really a labor of love. I only do it about an hour or two per night.
With stainless, you have to hand sand to about 1500 grit before the machine buffing, whereas the bronze props only have to go to about 400 or 600 grit before the machine buffing polishes and erases the little scratchs from the sandpaper.
Doug, thought about a jackplate, but the ride glide steering cable comes out of a hole on the drivers side of the boat and I do not know if it could make the bend with the motor set back any further.