The smell of repossession

[Lafayette Bruce]

My 19 was parked and tarped for a couple years and I am just now getting back into it.  The mice had moved in and taken it by storm.  I am in the process of repossessing it from them but the stench of their latrine lingers. I have opened up every access cover and looked in every corner and washed the cabin interior with bleach water but the stench remains.  As I was cleaning the bilge there was a bunch of polystyrene beads that I believe to have come from the foam block that is below the cockpit sole.  I think they we accessing that area from the aft where the "blue carpet box" leaves a small gap adjacent to the trailing edge of the keel.  Before I rip into the "blue carpet box" area, has anyone else gotten into that area and have suggestions?  Anyone have any pictures?
My plan is to cut a hole in the aft end of the cockpit sole, see what I can clean out and then install an inspection hatch.  Any thoughts on my access plan?
Thank you in advance....

[MichaelQuigley]

Take lots of pictures and such if you dig in. Would be curious to hear how this goes for you.

[crazycarl]

Years ago I talked with Jerry about removing the foam under the cockpit. He stated it wasn't there for flotation, but to keep the hull and cockpit sole from flexing. I envisioned installing a "sole"          under the cocpit with poured foam under the sole. Above would be marine plywood with framework holding it against the cocpit sole. PVC pipe would be under the poured foam to allow water to reach the bilge.